Kratos Steps Aside
PlayStation's State of Play June 2026 saved its biggest announcement for the finale: a new mainline entry in the God of War series — God of War Laufey.
For the first time in franchise history, Kratos is not the protagonist. Players step into the role of Laufey (Faye) — Kratos' wife, Atreus' mother, and the woman whose death set the entire Norse saga in motion. Santa Monica Studio revealed over 20 uninterrupted minutes of gameplay to close out the showcase.
Game Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | God of War Laufey |
| Developer | Santa Monica Studio |
| Publisher | PlayStation Studios / Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Platform | PlayStation 5 |
| Release Date | TBD — "Coming Soon to PS5" |
| Genre | Action Adventure |
| Protagonist | Laufey / Faye |
| Voice Actor | Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page, Daredevil / Born Again) |
| Setting | The Everywhen — afterlife of the gods |
| Wishlist | Open on PlayStation Store |
Developer: Santa Monica Studio
Creator of every God of War title since 2005, Santa Monica Studio returns with what Creative Director Cory Barlog describes as an expansion — not a departure — of the series.
""We'll always tell stories about Kratos, but I think for us, it was just a chance to talk about somebody who was so pivotal to the beginning... it's not a departure; it's more of an expansion." — Cory Barlog, Santa Monica Studio
Ariel Lawrence serves as Game Director — her first time in the top seat — having collaborated with Barlog for over two years. The reveal underscores Santa Monica's commitment to evolving the franchise from within.
Setting: The Everywhen
The Everywhen answers the question Odin obsessed over throughout Ragnarök: What happens to gods when they die?
This transcendent realm sits above both the Norse and Greek afterlives. Gods and creatures from multiple mythological pantheons coexist here — not peacefully — fighting for dominance in a world saturated with ancient magic.
""When we get to the Everywhen, the density of magic is amplified by like a thousand." — Cory Barlog
Details from the reveal:
- ▶Otherworldly forest overrun with killer flowers and masked skeletons
- ▶Caged creatures, bonfires of corpses, ominous gateways hanging in the sky
- ▶Nightmarish beauty — paradise and prison in one
- ▶Disrupted magical flow that Faye must investigate and repair
Story Setup
God of War Laufey begins the exact moment Faye's body burns on the funeral pyre at the opening of God of War (2018). This is not a prequel — it runs in parallel to both 2018's game and Ragnarök.
""None of this is like we're telling a side story. This is all a new chapter in the same book, a massive book, and we are starting to show that this has more than you could have imagined." — Cory Barlog
Faye awakens in the Everywhen, discovers that the protective plans she put in place for Kratos and Atreus are at risk, and fights to save the ones she loves. Kratos and Atreus do not appear as playable characters, but they still "shape the path" of Faye's journey.
Cast
Faye / Laufey — Deborah Ann Woll
The Golden Hand of the Jötnar and legendary warrior mother of Atreus. Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page in Daredevil/Born Again) reprises the role she voiced in God of War Ragnarök.
Phranque — Jack Quaid
A cosmic cube companion who will do whatever it takes to protect his friends. Jack Quaid (Hughie Campbell in The Boys) brings life to gaming's most unexpected sidekick.
Rue — Perlina Lau
An enchanted ribbon guardian charged with protecting a devastatingly powerful sword. Voiced by Perlina Lau.
Gods of the Everywhen
Two confirmed enemies: Sekhmet (Egyptian mythology — goddess of war) and Begtse (Mongolian Buddhist mythology). Their presence confirms the game's multi-pantheon scope.
Combat System
""How do we show somebody who's his equal as she is? Going to our more agile combat roots but also retaining our companions, our gritty closer combat." — Ariel Lawrence, Game Director
Faye's combat blends Greek-era fluidity with Norse-era depth:
| Combat Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Aerial Mobility | Seamless ground-to-air transitions without pausing combat |
| Soul Detachment | Golden Hand tears souls from enemies for combos and projectiles |
| Sword | Speed and relentlessness define the tempo of every encounter |
| Magic System | Amplified by the Everywhen's extreme magic density |
| Magic Philosophy | "For Kratos, magic is a tool. For Faye, magic is a part of her." |
The 20-minute reveal showcases a combat flow distinctly different from Kratos — faster, more magic-driven, built for vertical play with hyper-responsive controls.
Platform Availability
| Platform | Status | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | In Development | Wishlist open on PS Store | |
| PC (Steam/Epic) | Not announced | No official mention | |
| Xbox Series X\ | S | Not announced | No official mention |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Not announced | No official mention |
No exclusivity terms have been stated. Given Santa Monica Studio's history, a PS5 first launch is the most likely scenario.
Screenshots
State of Play June 2026 finale — 23-minute 4K gameplay, 114,700+ views on IGN
PlayStation channel — developers on how Faye embraces the franchise's brutal roots (53,500+ views)
Community Reaction
Immediate, wide-spread enthusiasm across Reddit, X, and YouTube followed the reveal:
- ▶"Twenty full uninterrupted minutes of gameplay. That's how you reveal a game."
- ▶"100% God of War without Kratos. Faye's combat looks faster and more fluid — I'm completely sold."
- ▶"Deborah Ann Woll as Faye again is perfect. The emotional weight was already there in Ragnarök."
- ▶"Multi-mythology in the Everywhen? This is the most ambitious scope the series has ever attempted."
- ▶"Jack Quaid voicing a cosmic cube named Phranque. This is exactly the kind of weird I want."
- ▶"Running parallel to 2018 and Ragnarök is genius. Now I want to replay both with this context."
IGN named the reveal the biggest news from the entire State of Play, calling it "not a departure from the series but a genuine expansion of everything God of War can be."
Wishlist Guide
PlayStation Store:
- 1Search "God of War Laufey" on PS5 or the PlayStation app
- 2Add to Wishlist — receive automatic notification when pre-orders open
Release Window Outlook:
No date or window has been announced. Based on Barlog's comments that the team is "still very hard at work," 2027 is the most realistic target. A surprise 2026 holiday release is unlikely.
GamePeak Verdict:
Strong wishlist — Twenty minutes of gameplay confirmed what rumors implied: this is a full-scale mainline God of War entry, not a spinoff. Faye's agile combat, the Everywhen's multi-mythology scope, and the parallel narrative structure make this one of the most compelling next-generation announcements of 2026.
Sources: PlayStation Blog (Grace Orlady, Santa Monica Studio), IGN exclusive interview (Rachel Weber), The Verge, Game Informer, PlayStation State of Play June 2026