Santa Monica Studio closed out PlayStation’s June State of Play with the reveal of God of War: Laufey, the next mainline entry in the franchise and the first one built entirely around a character who has only ever existed in flashbacks and stories. The studio backed the announcement with a full 20 minutes of gameplay, an unusually long showing for a new IP reveal, and made clear this is not a spinoff. It is the next chapter, and Kratos is not the one holding the axe.
The lead this time is Faye, also known by her frost giant name Laufey, wife to Kratos and mother to Atreus. Deborah Ann Woll returns to the role she first voiced in God of War Ragnarök, now stepping into the protagonist seat. The game functions as a parallel sequel to 2018’s God of War, picking up immediately after Faye is laid to rest. Death, as the studio frames it, is not the end.
A New Realm Called the Everywhen
Faye awakens after her funeral in a place called the Everywhen, described by Santa Monica Studio as the afterlife of the gods and the birthplace and endpoint to which all magic returns. It is a realm above the ones longtime players know, where deities and creatures from different mythologies coexist, though the trailer makes it clear that coexistence is not the same as peace.
The setup is tied directly to the family she left behind. Faye learns that the plans she put in place to protect Kratos and Atreus in her absence are now at risk, and saving them means fighting through a land overflowing with dangerous and unstable magic. It is a premise that finally gives one of the series’ most important figures a story of her own rather than a memory referenced by other characters.
Phranque, Rue, and a Stacked Companion Cast
Faye does not make the journey alone. Two companions stood out in the reveal. Phranque is a sentient cosmic cube voiced by Jack Quaid, described as a curious and earnest creature determined to protect his friends and the inhabitants of the Everywhen. Rue, voiced by Perlina Lau, is a set of enchanted sentient ribbons attached to Faye’s sword. Rue is more than narrative flavor, extending during sword strikes to strike distant enemies and keep foes at bay, which positions the character as a core part of both story and combat.
Combat Built Around Speed
Santa Monica Studio leaned into the idea that Faye needs to feel distinct from Kratos. Where Kratos hits like a wall, Faye is faster and more acrobatic, and the studio has emphasized speed, control, and relentlessness as the pillars of her gameplay. The result, based on the footage, keeps the intimate and brutal combat the series is known for while handcrafting a fresh feel built around mobility and quick weapon switching.
Mythologies Beyond Norse
The biggest shift may be the mythological scope. The Everywhen pulls gods from across cultures into one space, and two antagonists were shown. Sekhmet, the Egyptian warrior goddess and the war deity of her pantheon, and Begtse, the Tibetan Buddhist lord of war, both appear early and waste no time having Faye thrown into captivity. Mongolian-speaking enemies also turned up in the footage, signaling that the series is moving well past its Norse foundation. With a realm built to house gods from every mythology, the potential roster for this game and future entries is effectively unlimited.
Platform and Release
God of War: Laufey is in development for PlayStation 5 with no release date announced, and Sony is describing it only as coming soon. The game is already available to wishlist on the PlayStation Store. A PC port is not expected anytime soon, in line with reports that Sony is pulling back from day one PC releases for its major single player exclusives.
The reveal arrives alongside the previously announced God of War Trilogy Remake, with Cory Barlog still involved on the creative side. Reaction online has split sharply, with some fans celebrating Faye’s promotion to lead and others frustrated that Kratos is sitting this one out. What is not in dispute is that Santa Monica Studio handed over 20 minutes of gameplay to make its case, and the studio is clearly betting that Faye can carry the franchise on her own.
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