God of War Zeus Figure Sparks Speculation About Kratos' Greek Past in the Upcoming Game

God of War fans have another reason to go back to Kratos’ Greek mythology days, as McFarlane Toys is about to drop a collection of figures that includes Zeus and two versions of the Ghost of Sparta. The forthcoming collection includes Zeus from the Greek era, the original trilogy version of Kratos, and his more recent appearance from God of War Ragnarök.

Pre-orders for all three figures are expected to open on October 21, giving fans another opportunity to add characters from the franchise to their collections. However, the inclusion of Zeus has attracted particular attention because official merchandise featuring the character has been relatively uncommon compared to products based on Kratos.

Kratos has been a staple of PlayStation merchandise for years, featuring in multiple Funko Pop releases and other collectible products.

The franchise is still riding the success of 2018’s God of War and its sequel, and more recent merchandise has also featured characters from the Norse era, including Atreus and Odin. Zeus, however, is another story, with the character being very much linked to Kratos’ previous adventures through Greek mythology. 

According to the available data, the last officially licensed action figure of Zeus from God of War was released in 2010. That collection included four characters: Kratos, Zeus, Hercules, and Hades. The new release would mark another appearance for Zeus in an official action figure collection after a gap of approximately 16 years.

While the older figures have become expensive collectibles, with the Hades figure reportedly being listed for around $225, the renewed attention toward Zeus has raised questions about why McFarlane Toys is releasing the character now. The timing has also fueled speculation about a possible connection to Kratos' next adventure.

The older Zeus figure also appears to have a design that some fans might find closer to his appearance in the games. McFarlane's upcoming version retains recognizable elements of the character, including his hair, but differences in the sculpt and visible separations between body parts have drawn attention. Still, the design itself is only part of the discussion surrounding the release. The more interesting question is whether the figure's appearance could coincide with plans to revisit the Greek era in an upcoming God of War project. However, no official announcement has confirmed such a connection.

When talking about where the franchise might go next, the new merchandise is often cited as another sign that Greek gods will be featured in God of War: Sons of Sparta's successor, and this is a theory that is gaining traction. But the source material doesn’t show that the figure is related to an upcoming game, and the toy’s release or pre-order date doesn’t guaranty that Zeus will return in a new story. 

If the developers do intend to revisit Kratos’ Greek history, then Athena and Zeus are two characters that could make sense.

Both characters are deeply tied to his past and the events that formed him into the character players know today. Their return could allow the story to explore parts of Kratos’ past without necessarily making the Greek mythology setting the main focus of the next installment. Fans might also be eager to see Hades and Poseidon again, especially given their memorable performances in the earlier games, but Athena and Zeus might provide particularly direct links to Kratos’ personal history.

There have also been speculations about how the next project could explore the relationship between Kratos and Faye, especially if they were to return to the Greek era. Faye’s role in the Norse story helped set up the events that brought Kratos and Atreus together, but there are still parts of her past that could be explored. A story that ties her experience to Kratos’ past life could give a new dimension to their relationship. However, the information available does not confirm that such a storyline is planned, and the link remains a theory based on what direction fans think the franchise could take.

The theory also points out that God of War Ragnarök and its Valhalla DLC revisited Kratos’ past. Those releases refocused elements of his Greek-era identity, including his relationship with his former life and his status as a god. The games also featured the older version of Kratos looking back on who he used to be, allowing the developers to revisit familiar elements without returning to the original setting permanently. 

Zeus, one of the more notable figures of that period, would be gained by the return of one of the new things. Kratos’ Greek-era design has already been revisited in recent games and merchandise, while Zeus has yet to feature prominently in the latest releases. The long wait has led some fans to speculate that a new figure might just be another product for collectors, but the fact that it has arrived at all has opened up other possibilities. 

However, merchandise releases do not always mean that a character will appear in an upcoming game. 

Companies often bring back older characters because of nostalgia, because collectors want them, or because it is a chance to build on an existing product line. Kratos is still one of the most recognizable characters on PlayStation, and the Greek-era games have a dedicated fan base. Releasing Zeus and multiple versions of Kratos could be an easy way to appeal to fans from different eras of the franchise.

The new collection also points out that most of the God of War merchandise continues to focus on Kratos and not the wider cast of characters. We've seen figures based on Atreus and some of the other characters recently, but Kratos continues to be the main draw for many collectors. Zeus is a notable standout, as he is a big part of the series’ earlier mythology and has not been given the same attention through official action figures. His return to the merch line-up could help bring the character to newer fans who know the franchise mainly through the Norse games.

For now, there’s no official word that Zeus, Athena, or any other Greek gods will be making an appearance in the next God of War story. The new figure is from the upcoming McFarlane Toys line, and it’s reasonable to expect fans will see more of the character, but what that means for the merchandise and future storytelling plans remains uncertain.

Still, the long gap between official Zeus action figures and the character's revival has made for an engaging talking point for the community. If the franchise returns to Kratos’ past again, the return of familiar Greek mythology figures could be a chance to expand the character without retreading the same story.