Following Sony Interactive Entertainment's press conference at E3 2017, God of War Director Cory Barlog talked more about the game during the YouTube Live coverage, that was gloriously showcased with a long trailer.

We hear that last year's demo was designed to show the new tone of the game, as Barlog wanted it to be "really close and personal" and focused on a single moment. Now we're getting a lot closer to the release window, so Barlog wanted to show more of the game, and give people a sense of what Kratos' journey is gonna be, reinforcing the relationship between Kratos and his son Atreus, opening up the world and showing the combat a lot more.

The boat seen in the trailer can actually be controlled, and will be used throughout the game, that has an heavier emphasis on exploration. The player is "empowered to discover as they move through the world," and the boat is one of the ways that allows them to get around.

The game is not "open world" and it still focuses heavily on storytelling, but Barlog wanted to give players the idea of being on a tour bus and being able to get off whenever they want to look around. Then they can get back on whenever they want.

The game is set in a very expansive period, so the team wanted to give the idea that Kratos and his son have to make their way through a "very violent and very large world."

Interestingly, we learn that the footage showcased tonight was running on standard PS4 and not on PS4 Pro. The goal is for it to look even better on PS4 Pro.

Combat is fast and fluid just as in prrevious games. Kratos' axe is his primary attack method, while the son's bow is an assist. The collaboration between the two is their fighting style.

While the team is already able to play the game from start to finish, it's like saying a rough cut of a movie. According to Barlog they still have "a long road ahead, but it's looking great."

Interestingly, Barlog mentioned that he won't reveal what will happen with the World Serpent shown at the end of the trailer, but he teased that it's "unexpected."He's actually a friend and not a foe.

Asked how many puzzled there will be in the game, Barlog explained that God of War has always been a classic action adventure melding between traversal, puzzles, story and combat, and this new game is no different in that.

God of War will release exclusively for PS4 in early 2018. If you want to see more about the game, you can also check out the new trailer, and enjoy the latest screenshots in 4K resolution.