Modders clap back at God of War ‘whitewashing’ mod
A mod that tries to whitewash God of War Ragnarok's Angrboda has been quickly scrubbed from the internet.
27th Sep 2024 16:30
Images via Santa Monica Studios
Modders clap back at God of War ‘whitewashing’ mod
A mod that tries to whitewash God of War Ragnarok's Angrboda has been quickly scrubbed from the internet.
27th Sep 2024 16:30
Images via Santa Monica Studios
The modding community is again showing its sometimes ugly sad, as a 'whitewashing' God of War Ragnarok mod has been quickly stripped from the internet. While Santa Monica Studios is known for the bleached Kratos being known as the Ghost of Sparta, its side characters have helped make the franchise the success it is today.
Unfortunately, it seems that while God of War fans can accept a talking squirrel or decapitated head accompanying us across the Nine Realms, having a black character is a step too far. Back when God of War Ragnarok was released in 2022, there was a vocal minority that took issue with Angrboda being depicted as black.
Nexus Mods reportedly pulls Ragnarok's Angrboda mod
It's baffling that in 2024, we're still facing issues like that. Sadly, it's come to our attention that Nexus Mods was apparently forced to pull a God of War Ragnarok that whitewashed Angrboda into being caucasian. As shared on Reddit, a modder called Comic Fan shared the concept and unfinished files for a white Angrboda.
The OP claims that after Nexus Mods pulled the concept without warning, it was later uploaded to Gamebanana but faced the same fate. Gamebanana moderators reportedly said the 3D modeller's work was "discrimination" and "trolling." A defiant Comic Fan said they did it because they aren't a fan of 'modern' Sony.
The whole situation is pretty ironic when you remember Angrboda is described as a giantess with red hair and blue skin in mythology. It's true that she's typically depicted with pale skin and red hair in artistic works, but God of War has never been known for its accurate depiction of mythology - arguably, one of its big selling points.
While most were over the moon about Ragnarok's PC release so they could swap Kratos with Shrek or bypass the PSN requirements (this mod has since been pulled due to worries Sony could intervene), others are clearly using it for more unsavoury reasons. We're reminded of when Nexus Mods had to stop a mod that removed Pride flags from Marvel's Spider-Man.
Ragnarok Narrative Director Matt Sophos previously spoke out about the Angrboda controversy, telling X (then Twitter) "Do they also have blue Dwarves in Norse mythology? Was Loki the son of a Greek demigod? Please show me in the Eddas where it says that all Jötunn were lily white? Let me save you the time… you can’t. I’ve read them."
There were similar grumbles that Ragnarok had a 'fat' Thor, and while we thought these uncomfortable aesthetic complaints had died down, it seems some people are still mad nearly two years later. Considering Angrboda actor Laya DeLeon Hayes won Best Performer in a Supporting Role at the BAFTA Game Awards, it's clear there's a lot of love for her portrayal.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
