Santa Monica Studio’s God of War Laufey puts Faye front and center in a PS5-exclusive adventure through the Everywhen. Multiple insiders point to a first-half 2027 release. Here’s everything confirmed so far.
God of War Laufey is the first mainline entry in the franchise’s 21-year history to feature a protagonist other than Kratos. Revealed during the PlayStation State of Play on June 2, 2026, with over 20 minutes of gameplay footage, the PS5 exclusive stars Faye (Laufey the Just), Kratos’ deceased Jötunn wife and mother of Atreus. Sony has not announced an official release date, but multiple credible industry sources are converging on the first half of 2027.
When Does God of War Laufey Come Out?
Sony and Santa Monica Studio closed the State of Play reveal with the simple tagline “coming soon to PlayStation 5” and no specific date. However, insider reports have narrowed the window considerably.
Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier responded “Definitely not” when asked whether Laufey was a 2028 title, and previously stated the game was not “years away.” Insider NateTheHate reported that Santa Monica Studio is targeting a release in the first half of 2027, while another source, Alir, pointed to Q1 2027 specifically. NateTheHate did note that plans could have shifted since his information was obtained.
Santa Monica Studio’s own release history supports a spring launch:
- God of War: March 22, 2005
- God of War II: March 13, 2007
- God of War III: March 16, 2010
- God of War: Ascension: March 12, 2013
- God of War (2018): April 20, 2018
God of War Ragnarök broke this pattern with a November 2022 launch, but four out of five previous mainline entries shipped between March and April. A March or April 2027 release would fit the studio’s historical rhythm almost perfectly. The studio has also confirmed it will share more details in the coming months.
The Story: Faye, the Everywhen, and a Parallel Timeline
God of War Laufey begins at the exact moment of Faye’s funeral pyre at the start of 2018’s God of War. While Kratos and Atreus set off on their journey across the Nine Realms, Faye’s story diverges: she awakens in the Everywhen, a transcendent afterlife realm described by PlayStation Blog as “the birthplace and endpoint to which all magic returns.”
Cory Barlog has stated clearly that this is not a prequel. The narrative runs parallel to both God of War (2018) and Ragnarök. Faye discovers that the carefully laid plans she put in motion to protect Kratos and Atreus are now under threat, and she must fight through the Everywhen to preserve her family’s future.
The story also answers a question that drove Odin to obsession throughout Ragnarök: what happens to gods when they die? They arrive in the Everywhen, a realm where magic originates and returns, where power-hungry deities from every mythology compete for dominance. But the natural flow of magic has been disrupted, turning what could be paradise into a prison Faye must navigate to find her way home.
New Gods: Sekhmet and Begtse
God of War Laufey pushes the franchise beyond Norse and Greek mythology for the first time. Two new deities were introduced in the reveal trailer: Sekhmet from Egyptian mythology and Begtse from the Tibetan-Mongolian tradition. Both are war gods, and both currently hold power within the Everywhen.
Sekhmet, the lion-headed daughter of the sun god Ra, is the Egyptian goddess of war, vengeance, and plagues. Begtse, also known as the Red Guardian, is a Mongolian pre-Buddhist and later Buddhist god of war. He calls Faye a “godling” in the trailer, suggesting she occupies a lower tier of divinity in this realm. These two appear to be initial antagonists, with more mythological figures expected as the game progresses.
Speculation from the community also points to possible connections with Arthurian legend, Chinese mythology, and Mayan traditions, though none of these have been officially confirmed. The Everywhen’s cross-mythology premise opens the door for virtually any pantheon to appear.
Combat: Speed, Soul Magic, and Aerial Combos
Faye’s combat identity is fundamentally different from Kratos. According to Santa Monica Studio’s PlayStation Blog post, her fighting style is defined by “speed, control, and relentlessness.” The team built her gameplay by combining the movement fluidity of the Greek-era games with the Norse era’s world-building approach.
The most significant gameplay change is the return of a full jump mechanic, absent from the series since God of War III (2010). Faye can seamlessly transition between ground and aerial combat without halting the action. This hyper-responsive movement adds both offensive and defensive tools, enabling extended air combos, dodge repositioning, and rapid engagement switches.
Rather than the Leviathan Axe (which she originally owned before passing it to Kratos), Faye wields an enchanted legendary sword earned through her companion Rue. The sword’s full name has not been revealed, but its gameplay is built around momentum: chaining ground strikes into aerial finishers with lethal precision.
Faye’s signature ability is soul manipulation. As the Golden Hand of the Jötnar, the most powerful protector of the Giants, she can strike enemies with her golden palm to physically detach their soul from their body. She can then attack the soul directly, knock it into other enemies, or use it to extend combos. The ancient magic of the Everywhen amplifies these soul-based powers well beyond what she wielded in life.
Companions: Phranque and Rue
Faye does not journey through the Everywhen alone. She encounters two companions shortly after awakening:
- Phranque (voiced by Jack Quaid, known for The Boys): A curious cosmic gelatinous cube with an earnest disposition. He protects his friends and the creatures of the Everywhen at all costs.
- Rue (voiced by Perlina Lau): An enchanted ribbon guardian tasked with keeping a devastatingly powerful sword from falling into the wrong hands. Her bond with the sword ties directly into Faye’s combat progression.
Deborah Ann Woll (Daredevil, True Blood) reprises her role as Faye from God of War Ragnarök. The casting choices signal a strong emphasis on narrative performance, continuing the franchise’s tradition of Hollywood-caliber voice acting.
PS5 Exclusive: No PC Version Announced
God of War Laufey is confirmed as a PlayStation 5 exclusive. Unlike God of War (2018) and Ragnarök, which both eventually received PC ports, no PC version has been announced for Laufey. The game is currently available for wishlisting on the PlayStation Store, but pre-orders are not yet live. No pricing or special edition details have been shared.
This PS5-only approach marks a deliberate shift. Sony appears to be using Laufey as a platform anchor, giving players a major first-party reason to stay within the PlayStation ecosystem heading into 2027.
What This Means for Sony’s 2027 Lineup
A first-half 2027 release for Laufey would give Sony room to space out its major exclusives. Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is also expected in the 2027 window, and historically Naughty Dog has shipped its biggest titles in late spring or summer. A Laufey release in March or April would create natural breathing room between the two flagships.
According to marketing firm LevelUp, God of War Laufey led all games during Summer Game Fest 2026 in trailer views, press coverage, and player engagement. That level of community excitement, combined with a polished 20-minute gameplay reveal, suggests the game is further along in development than its missing release date might imply.
What Players Are Asking
Is God of War Laufey a prequel?
No. Cory Barlog confirmed the game is not a prequel. It starts at the same moment as the 2018 game and runs as a parallel story to both God of War (2018) and Ragnarök, following Faye’s journey in the Everywhen while Kratos and Atreus travel the Nine Realms.
Will Kratos appear in the game?
The reveal trailer briefly showed Kratos and a young Atreus during the funeral pyre sequence. Some insider reports have suggested Kratos may play a larger role later in the story and could potentially become playable, but this has not been officially confirmed.
Which mythologies will the game feature?
Egyptian mythology (Sekhmet) and Tibetan-Mongolian tradition (Begtse) are confirmed alongside the established Norse and Greek elements. The trailer also showed creatures with East Asian design influences. The Everywhen’s cross-mythology concept allows for virtually any pantheon to be included.
How does Faye’s combat differ from Kratos?
Where Kratos is defined by raw power and heavy strikes, Faye is built around speed, aerial fluidity, and soul magic. She uses an enchanted sword instead of the Leviathan Axe, can transition seamlessly between ground and air combat, and can detach enemy souls to use as offensive weapons. The combat draws inspiration from both the classic Greek-era and modern Norse-era God of War titles.
The Bottom Line
God of War Laufey represents one of the boldest creative swings in PlayStation history. Handing a mainline God of War entry to Faye, introducing the cross-mythology Everywhen, bringing back aerial combat, and adding soul manipulation mechanics all signal a game designed to feel fresh while honouring 21 years of franchise DNA. While Sony has yet to stamp a date on the calendar, the convergence of insider reports around early 2027 and Santa Monica Studio’s historical preference for spring launches makes March or April 2027 the strongest bet. You can add the game to your wishlist on the PlayStation Store right now.
