Lançado no dia 9 de novembro, God of War Ragnarok conta com uma homenagem a história de amor entre dois desenvolvedores do estúdio Santa Monica envolvidos na franquia, em que um deles veio a falecer. Na quest secundária “Pelos Reinos”, o jogador vai descobrir a história de Jari e Somr, dois amantes que viajavam juntos entre os reinos e criavam refeições lendárias.
A história foi colocada no jogo em homenagem ao relacionamento de Sam e Jake, que faleceu de epilepsia em 2020. Os dois se conheceram no estúdio Santa Monica e, em pouco tempo, começaram a namorar. Eles sempre entravam em competições de culinária da empresa e venciam.
There's something in God of War Ragnarok which is the most special to me. I got to pitch it and the team made it into everything I could have hoped.
I had hoped to wait for some time to talk about it but want to share it now, just in case.
It's the Ballad of Jari and Somr. pic.twitter.com/S9itiutGbq
— Sam Handrick (@MDSVeritas) November 18, 2022
It's not a spoiler for the main story, but is a side-quest ‘Favor' you can discover, so feel free to seek it out yourself first. You may have noticed the first sign of it in these hearts scattered across the realms.
The story of them goes back to a man I love more than anything. pic.twitter.com/mcO9tYZ5bZ
— Sam Handrick (@MDSVeritas) November 18, 2022
I wanted this story to be one many queer people know: journeying through a world that doesn't always understand you to find a place that truly feels like home.
And sometimes that place is simply a person.
And something as simple as a recipe can be a link back to that home. pic.twitter.com/ZlfDLMUQEi
— Sam Handrick (@MDSVeritas) November 18, 2022
I met Jake Snipes when he joined Santa Monica Studio in 2019. We worked on God of War Ragnarok together, both loved Carly Rae Jepsen and Death Note, and soon we become really close friends.
Before too long we become more than that. Jake was and is a shining light in my life. pic.twitter.com/IZBdUlw1Gw
— Sam Handrick (@MDSVeritas) November 18, 2022
I was madly in love with him, and he with me. So madly that we decided to take a grand road trip across the whole United States together, just visiting theme parks.
We stayed in on weekends to play games together, adventured around LA and California. I began to feel truly home. pic.twitter.com/yIsxT5ulqj
— Sam Handrick (@MDSVeritas) November 18, 2022
We picked up baking on a whim, and started to bring anything we made into the Studio. Soon it became our reputation around the team. We even happened to win one of the Studio's pie-baking competitions. I loved creating with him. Whether it was games or the sweetest desserts. pic.twitter.com/2vxTnzakfr
— Sam Handrick (@MDSVeritas) November 18, 2022
Jake died in 2020, due to his epilepsy.
I was heartbroken. I still am. I will always be.
I spent months hardly wanting to be alive.
But when I returned to Ragnarok I wanted it to be everything he deserved. And I hoped I could leave some piece of him within it. pic.twitter.com/6K6TDBGdIQ
— Sam Handrick (@MDSVeritas) November 18, 2022