From Dominus to Kratos

In the early development stages of the acclaimed video game series God of War, Kratos was originally set to be named “Dominus.” David Jaffe, the director behind the initial trilogy, shared insights into this naming process and the humorous circumstances that led to the name change.

The Pizza Connection

Jaffe appreciated the name Dominus for its connotations of power and dominance. However, the team at Santa Monica Studio quickly began associating it with Domino’s Pizza. Jaffe recounted, “The people on the team started making Domino’s Pizza jokes. Every single time someone said Dominus, someone inevitably would yell out, ‘30 minutes or free,’ or, ‘Get the door, it’s Dominus.’”

After this recurring joke became too frequent, it was clear that Dominus would not be a suitable name for the game’s protagonist. Jaffe elaborated, “After about the 50th time, the writing was on the wall. Dominus was dead, and we needed a new name for our hero.”

The Name Search

Following the rejection of Dominus, a studio member made an extensive list of Ancient Greek baby names. Jaffe, sifting through this list, utilized a highlighter to mark potential candidates. He noted that none of the highlighted names resonated well, mentioning examples such as Julius, Parthenius, and Maksym.

It was Susan Panico, the marketing lead, who ultimately suggested the name Kratos. Jaffe noted, “She pitched it, and we loved it, and it stuck.”

The Unexpected Discovery

Years later, Jaffe discovered the list of highlighted names among his old design documents and found the name Kratos listed there—unhighlighted. Reflecting on this twist of fate, he stated, “We had Sony’s biggest franchise hero in our hands the entire time and we didn’t even know it. Which I guess goes to show you how much of success in games is just luck, timing, and, in this case, marketing.”

Legacy of God of War

The first installment of God of War was released in 2005 on the PlayStation 2, achieving significant commercial success. The franchise has since grown to include numerous titles and is widely regarded among industry veterans and gamers alike. Notably, the next chapter, God of War: Laufey, is slated for release on the PS5 in February 2027, alongside another untitled entry featuring Kratos currently under development.