Credit: Santa Monica Studio
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God of War Laufey Changes How We See the Series So Far
June 26, 2026·6 min read
By the end of 2018's God of War, Faye can be compared to Clark Kent being revealed as Superman. The surprise was just as significant. As the game revealed, Kratos' beloved was not an ordinary woman from Midgard, but a legendary Giant warrior. What's more, she had even fought Odin and Thor himself!
The first entry in the Norse saga left players incredibly curious about Faye. God of War Ragnarök also revealed very little about her, limiting her appearances to Kratos' dreams and stories told by people who meet Kratos and Atreus throughout the campaign. Fans of Faye will finally get the character development they have been waiting for in God of War: Laufey. The first trailer, featuring gameplay footage, has already been released on PlayStation's YouTube channel.
Faye in Previous God of War Games
The paradox of Faye is that she is both one of the most important characters in the Norse saga and the one we see the least. In 2018's God of War, we only meet her as a body wrapped in a shroud and later burning on a funeral pyre. For the rest of the game, she exists mainly through the memories of those Kratos and Atreus encounters, through the Leviathan Axe that was originally forged for her, and through the mysterious markings carved into the trees of Midgard.
Ragnarök did not change that in the way many fans had hoped. Faye appears in one of Kratos' dreams, speaks to him from afar, and in the ruins of Vanaheim players can discover a frozen lightning bolt, a silent reminder that she truly clashed with Thor in the past.
The woman who effectively set the entire Norse story in motion remained a shadow throughout two games. That is exactly why the announcement of God of War: Laufey caused such a huge reaction.
What Did We Learn from the God of War: Laufey Trailer?
Santa Monica Studio did not take the easy route when revealing its new game. Instead of a short cinematic teaser, the PlayStation State of Play presentation on June 2, 2026 featured nearly twenty minutes of gameplay from the opening chapter. That is a rare approach for a first look at a title of this scale.
The footage introduces a place known as Everywhen, the afterlife of the gods, where Faye arrives after her death. This is neither the Norse Helheim nor the Greek Hades. Everywhen is something entirely different. It exists beyond mythology, serving as a realm where gods from different pantheons collide in a battle for power. Two antagonists have already been introduced: the Egyptian Sekhmet and the Mongolian Begtse. Their presence clearly signals that the series is moving beyond the world of Norse mythology.
The gameplay itself feels noticeably different from what players have come to expect from Kratos. Faye fights with a sword, moves much faster, and transitions smoothly between ground combat and aerial attacks. Magical abilities also play a major role, including powers connected to the souls of defeated enemies. Faye is not simply a female version of Kratos. She is an entirely different character.
Throughout the game, Laufey will be accompanied by two companions: Phranque, a cheerful cosmic cube, and Rue, the guardian of an enchanted sword.
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How Laufey Could Change the Way We View the Previous Games
The biggest question fans have after watching the trailer is just how much of what happened in the previous games was actually Faye's doing. The hidden markings on the trees, her final wish to scatter her ashes from the highest peak in the Nine Realms, and the dreams haunting Kratos in Ragnarök all suggest the careful planning of someone who saw the future long before anyone else.
The developers themselves have confirmed that God of War: Laufey begins at the moment Faye realizes her carefully crafted plans are under threat. This is important because the Norse saga was ultimately about breaking free from destiny. If Faye turned out to be the mastermind behind every move Kratos and Atreus ever made, that central theme would lose much of its meaning.
Can the Series Succeed Without Kratos?
For more than two decades, God of War has been synonymous with Kratos. His scars, red tattoos, the Leviathan Axe or the Blades of Chaos in his hands, and a rage that never needed an explanation defined the franchise. The series built its entire identity around one character so completely that it was difficult to imagine anyone replacing him.
Santa Monica Studio has now decided to test that idea. God of War: Laufey is the first game in the franchise where Kratos is not the playable protagonist. He appears in the opening scene and, according to currently available information, at least once more, but only as a supporting presence. This time, he is the one waiting instead of taking action. It is a decision that carries real risk. Many fans are deeply attached to Kratos. For a large part of the audience, he is the series, not the mythology or the world itself.
Shifting the spotlight to another character could have gone in many different directions. Choosing Faye, however, is difficult to question. She is the one character in the Norse saga who raised countless questions from the very first minutes of 2018's God of War, yet never truly received answers. She is not a random new protagonist inserted into someone else's story. She is its foundation.
For two games, Kratos and Atreus followed a path that she created. Now players will finally discover who laid that path and why. From that perspective, Santa Monica Studio's gamble looks far less risky than it first appears.
God of War: Laufey Release Date
There is currently no official release date. Neither Sony nor Santa Monica Studio announced a release window during the State of Play presentation. Considering the amount of gameplay already shown and the level of polish on display, many industry commentators speculate that the game could launch in 2027, although that remains purely speculation for now. The game will be released exclusively for PlayStation 5.
God of War Laufey
God of War: Laufey is an upcoming action-adventure game developed by Santa Monica Studio for PlayStation 5. The game follows Laufey, also known as Faye, after she awakens in a strange afterlife realm following her death. To protect Kratos and Atreus, she travels through the Every
Developer
SIE Santa Monica Studio
Publisher
Sony Interactive Entertainment
Systems
PlayStation 5
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