God of War Fans Agree Ryan Hurst's New Kratos Pic Looks Much Better Than Prime Video's Previous, Widely-Ridiculed Photo

God of War fans have taken to social media to express their approval of the new photo of Ryan Hurst in costume as the character Kratos, in contrast to Prime Video's previous, widely ridiculed image. The streamer had abruptly parted ways with Hurst last month, citing his bicep injury and subsequent surgery that required the actor to undergo an operation.

The initial photo of Hurst as Kratos drew heavy criticism for its CGI backdrop, unrealistic props, and awkward pose, which was dubbed "like he was s***ing in the woods" by the game's creator David Jaffe.

Hurst later gave a cryptic response, telling fans not to take everything they see online at face value. This led to speculation that Kratos' design was still being refined. However, Hurst has now shared a topless photo of himself, posted to Instagram Stories via X (Twitter user @TheGameVerse), which fans claim is a significant improvement over Prime Video's initial image.

Some fans argue that the streamer acted too hastily in seeking a replacement, while others maintain that Hurst is the only one who can accurately portray the character.

Prime Video has acknowledged the need to meet its production schedule, but it has reportedly been quick to secure a replacement, with Guardians of the Galaxy star Dave Bautista now being considered as a top contender. A fan wrote on X that Amazon made a significant mistake by not waiting for Hurst to heal or simply asking if he could still perform his role.

The timing of Hurst's photo release, coinciding with reports of Bautista's potential involvement, has sparked further debate among fans about the decision to rush the replacement process.