God of War PSP's seamless loading was only possible because a Jak & Daxter game was also running in the background

God of War 3
(Image credit: Sony Computer Entertainment)

God of War: Chains of Olympus was sort of a miracle on the PlayStation Portable, delivering all of Kratos' blood-soaked spectacle on the small screen. But it was only able to squeeze so much out of the humble handheld because a Jak and Daxter game was apparently also running in the background.

God of War stewards Sony Santa Monica revealed as much in celebration of the series' 20th anniversary. "In God of war: Chains of Olympus, the PSP's hardware limitations made seamless loading a challenge," the studio wrote in a social media post. "The solution? A movie file running in the background to keep things smooth - true to God of War's signature style."

What was that movie? Well, it was none other than the intro cinematic for Daxter, a standalone PSP platformer based on Naughty Dog's series Jak and Daxter (duh). It might seem like a pretty random workaround, but The Order: 1886 developer Ready At Dawn actually cut its teeth by turning PlayStation's console heavyhitters into small screen stars. It's debut game was Daxter, and it eventually used the mascot platformer to go even bigger with Chains of Olympus. Ready At Dawn was eventually acquired and then closed by Facebook, though, so RIP.

I'm not nearly genius enough to figure out how Daxter's intro cinematic would help God of War's seamless loading - in my mind, two things running at once would just make everything slower - but that's why we leave the game making to the wizards, eh?

God of War's 20th anniversary announcement comes without a remaster, but PlayStation is giving us some sick new God of War Ragnarok skins and a 67-inch Jörmungandr plush

CATEGORIES
Freelance contributor

Kaan freelances for various websites including Rock Paper Shotgun, Eurogamer, and this one, Gamesradar. He particularly enjoys writing about spooky indies, throwback RPGs, and anything that's vaguely silly. Also has an English Literature and Film Studies degree that he'll soon forget.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
God of War Ragnarok
God of War's 20th anniversary announcement comes without a remaster, but PlayStation is giving us some sick new God of War Ragnarok skins and a 67-inch Jörmungandr plush
Cropped cover art for God of War: Ascension, showing Kratos with chains on his arms.
God of War: Ascension's online multiplayer is still kicking almost 12 years on, but its veterans will destroy you on sight: "Everyone who plays this right now is literally a God"
A press photo of a PlayStation Portable, focusing on the d-pad and analog stick
"The PSP was one of the first machines that had the hardware to allow you to play 'proper console games' on the go": Developers celebrate 20 years of Sony's handheld
God of War Ragnarok
God of War turns 20 this month, but before you get too excited, Santa Monica Studio says "there are no planned announcements" at its celebratory panel
Games like God of War Ragnarok: Kratos fighting a giant monster on a mountain top.
10 games like God of War Ragnarok you should play next
Artwork of blobs to promote Archer Maclean's Mercury
"Sony would also turn to Mercury for all their tech demos for publishers": Jeb Mayers talks us through the creation of the portable puzzler
Latest in God of War
God of War 3
God of War PSP's seamless loading was only possible because a Jak & Daxter game was also running in the background
God of War Ragnarok
God of War's 20th anniversary announcement comes without a remaster, but PlayStation is giving us some sick new God of War Ragnarok skins and a 67-inch Jörmungandr plush
God of War Ragnarok
God of War turns 20 this month, but before you get too excited, Santa Monica Studio says "there are no planned announcements" at its celebratory panel
Cropped cover art for God of War: Ascension, showing Kratos with chains on his arms.
God of War: Ascension's online multiplayer is still kicking almost 12 years on, but its veterans will destroy you on sight: "Everyone who plays this right now is literally a God"
God of War: Ragnarok
God of War actor Chris Judge says it's "absolutely not true" that he teased new content as "you can't tease something you know nothing about"
God of War: Ragnarok
Days after shutting its AAA game studio filled with former God of War and Overwatch talent, Netflix announces a "new initiative" powered by AI
Latest in News
God of War 3
God of War PSP's seamless loading was only possible because a Jak & Daxter game was also running in the background
Baldur's Gate 3 the vampire Astarion covered in blood
Baldur’s Gate 3 Astarion actor Neil Newbon warns games industry that "AI will have deep ramifications" if not properly regulated: "I believe in experiencing life and art through human expression, not software"
Putting cigarettes in fish mouths in Thank Goodness You're Here
Thank Goodness You're Here's developer says it was trying to design a game normally before realizing "we're s**t at video game design"
MindsEye
GTA veteran's new open-world game will belong to everyone – almost like a wild mix of Roblox and Minecraft servers: "It won't just be ours"
Darth Vader in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Star Wars fans have ignited an age-old debate, and there are some seriously hot takes
Bill getting teary-eyed in The Last of Us
A potential The Last of Us season 1 plot hole has sparked a lot of debate among the fans