God of War Laufey Reveals Faye as Protagonist, Blending Classic and Norse Combat on PS5

Santa Monica Studio unveiled God of War Laufey, an upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive that marks a major shift for the franchise: for the first time, Kratos will not be the main playable character. Instead, players will control Faye, Kratos' late wife, as she journeys through the afterlife of the gods. The game was officially revealed during the June 2 State of Play broadcast, immediately sparking heated discussion among fans and series veterans.

God of War Laufey’s combat system is designed as a fusion of the classic Greek trilogy and the more recent Norse saga. While Faye’s fighting style emphasizes agility and mobility — contrasting sharply with Kratos’ brute force — classic mechanics like free jumping, aerial attacks, and combos will return. The developers have also teased entirely new gameplay mechanics, though details remain under wraps for now.

The decision to shift focus away from Kratos has been controversial. David Jaffe, creator of the original God of War, publicly criticized the reveal, calling the new direction «awful» and arguing that it strays too far from the series’ roots. Many fans on social media echoed this sentiment, questioning whether God of War can truly exist without Kratos at its center. However, creative director Cory Barlog has reassured players that Kratos will still play a significant role in Laufey and remains central to the franchise’s future. «Faye is, while it’s a different thing, still part of the larger tapestry of what we truly want to explore,» Barlog said. «But there are always going to be Kratos games throughout the whole history.»

Game director Ariel Lawrence shared that even he was surprised by the studio’s decision to make Faye the lead, having expected to continue telling stories about Kratos. Lawrence emphasized that Santa Monica Studio still has more stories to tell about the iconic Spartan, though he declined to reveal specifics about future projects.

Meanwhile, the God of War universe continues to expand. A God of War Trilogy Remake is in development for PS5, with TC Carson returning as the voice of Kratos. Additionally, a God of War TV series is set to debut on Amazon Prime Video in 2027, featuring Kratos, Atreus, and other familiar characters from the Norse saga.

How do you feel about God of War Laufey shifting the spotlight to Faye — should the series always center on Kratos, or is it time for new heroes?