God Of War's Cory Barlog Exits Sony Santa Monica

In confirming development of God of War III on the PlayStation 3, officials from Sony Computer Entertainment America have also announced that God of War II director Cory Barlog has left the company’s Santa Monica studio. Speaking to consumer website 1UP, an unnamed Sony spokesperson indicated that, “We can confirm that Cory Barlog, game director for God of War II, is leaving the SCEA SM Studio and we are grateful for his work and creative vision for the critically acclaimed God of War franchise. "Moving forward, we are confident in the God of War team, as they are an extremely talented group of people that are passionate about the franchise and dedicated to creating even more epic content with God of War: Chains of Olympus for the PSP and God of War III for PS3." The statement does not indicate whether Barlog will move elsewhere within Sony Computer Entertainment America or whether he will leave the company entirely. However, Sony has indicated that rumors of a mass exodus from the Santa Monica studio are untrue. Barlog has proven almost as outspoken as original God of War director David Jaffe, who reduced his involvement in God of War II to that of creative director. Jaffe eventually left Sony to form independent, but Sony-backed, studio Eat, Sleep, Play with Incognito’s Scott Campbell.