Santa Monica Studio just blew up the God of War formula in the most surprising way possible. God of War Laufey, revealed during PlayStation's State of Play on June 2, 2026, is not a Kratos game. It is a Faye game - and the fact that this is happening at all says a lot about how confident Sony is in where this franchise can go.
Faye, also known as Laufey the Just, is Kratos' wife, the mother of Atreus, and one of the most talked-about characters in the entire God of War series despite spending all of it dead. Players have been piecing together who she was through ash scattered on mountaintops, through the painted murals she left behind, through the way Kratos and Atreus spoke about her in the space between fights. Now Santa Monica is betting that the most compelling story left in this world belongs to her.
What God of War Laufey Is About
The game picks up in a place called the Everywhen - a mythological afterlife where the dead of many different pantheons find themselves after their stories end in the living world. Faye arrives there after her death, which the player will remember preceded the events of God of War 2018 by a significant margin.
The story is driven by what Faye discovers in the Everywhen: Kratos and Atreus are in danger, and the threats moving against them have roots that trace back to her own history. Faye battles through this afterlife realm - encountering gods and monsters from pantheons the series has not explored before - to protect them.
The 20-minute gameplay reveal showed a character who moves very differently from Kratos. Faye is agile where Kratos is powerful. She uses a different combat language built around the same mythological weight players expect, but with a physicality that feels entirely her own.
The Cast
Deborah Ann Woll plays Faye. Woll is best known for her work as Karen Page across the Netflix Marvel series and the original Daredevil run, and she brings a different register to the God of War voice tradition - precise and controlled in a way that fits a character who spent years hiding her true nature from the people around her.
Jack Quaid plays a character named Phranque - a new creation for the game whose role in the story has not been fully revealed. Perlina Lau plays Rue, another new character introduced in the Everywhen.
Who Is Developing It
Santa Monica Studio is handling development. The studio made God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarok, and the reveal trailer showed the same visual fidelity and world-building depth those games established. The mythological setting of the Everywhen gives the team room to build environments from pantheons that would not fit naturally into a Kratos-led sequel.
What It Means for the Series
God of War Laufey is the franchise's first mainline entry where Kratos is not playable. He appears in the story - the trailer briefly shows his face in a vision sequence - but he is not the protagonist. That is a significant departure for a series that has spent more than 20 years being synonymous with one character.
The closest comparison might be what happened when The Last of Us shifted to Abby in Part II - a move that divided players sharply and generated some of the most intense conversation in gaming that year. Santa Monica is clearly aware of that context. Whether the Faye-led approach earns the same level of investment will depend on execution, but the setup is strong.
Release and Platform
God of War Laufey is in development for PlayStation 5. A release date has not been announced. Given Santa Monica's typical development cycles, a 2027 window would be consistent, but no official timing has been shared.
Conclusion
God of War Laufey is one of the boldest announcements Sony has made in years - a mainline sequel in one of PlayStation's biggest franchises that removes the protagonist the franchise was built around and centers the story on a character the player has never controlled. The Everywhen is visually compelling, Faye's movement feels earned, and Deborah Ann Woll's performance in the gameplay reveal already sounds like a standout. This one is going to be watched very closely.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is God of War Laufey?
God of War Laufey is the next mainline entry in the God of War franchise, developed by Santa Monica Studio for PlayStation 5. It stars Faye, Kratos' deceased wife, as the playable protagonist.
Who plays Faye in God of War Laufey?
Deborah Ann Woll, best known for playing Karen Page in Netflix's Daredevil and Marvel series.
Is Kratos in God of War Laufey?
Kratos appears in the story but is not playable. Faye is the sole playable protagonist.
What is the Everywhen?
The Everywhen is a mythological afterlife that spans multiple pantheons, where Faye finds herself after her death. It is the primary setting of God of War Laufey.
When does God of War Laufey come out?
No release date has been announced. The game was revealed at PlayStation's State of Play in June 2026.
Are you excited about a Faye-led God of War, or do you need Kratos in the lead to be fully on board? Let us know in the comments.