[Reposted from my personal blog, mashedbuttons.com.]

1UP is reporting that Cory Barlog, directory of God of War II, is leaving SCEA and going off to start a new venture.  Boy, have people lost their minds over this one.

Before you get started in this "OMFG GOW III IS GONNA SUXORZ" mentatlity let me refresh your memory.  David Jaffe directed the first game.  When he announced that Barlog would handle the sequel people cried that the sky was falling.  In the end, God of War II was a brilliant game.

I think that a franchise like God of War needs this. Each game has a new guy at the helm with new ideas.  This way, each game is similar to the other, but fresh.  We don't get stuck in the cookie cutter gameplay with new cutscenes.  New directors bring new ideas, new gameplay elements, new awesomeness.

So before you shit your pants, calm down, take a deep breath, and remember, this happened before with spectacular results.