Since its reveal in June 2026, God of War: Laufey has immediately become one of the most intriguing upcoming PlayStation releases.
For the first time in the franchise's mainline history, Kratos isn't the playable protagonist.
Instead, Santa Monica Studio is putting his wife, Laufey (Faye), at the center of the story and sending her somewhere the God of War universe has never explored before: a mysterious realm known as the Everywhen.
Even more surprising, the game isn't staying within Norse mythology. Egyptian and Mongolian gods are joining the series' growing mythological universe, creating what could be one of the franchise's strangest adventures yet.
Here is everything you need to know about God of War: Laufey, including its story, setting, characters, release date, and platforms.
⚔️ Who Is the Main Character?
The biggest change is obvious:
You play as Faye.
Known formally as Laufey the Just, she is Kratos' wife and Atreus' mother. Although Faye's influence has been central to the recent God of War games, much of her life has remained hidden from players.
Laufey finally puts her story in the spotlight.
Rather than simply retelling events from the previous games, Santa Monica Studio uses Faye's perspective to explore what happened to her after her death and reveal more about the plans she made for her family.
That makes the game less of a traditional spinoff and more of a new chapter in the larger God of War mythology.
🌌 Welcome to the Everywhen
The game's biggest mystery is its setting.
After Faye's funeral, she awakens in a strange realm called the Everywhen.
This isn't simply another version of the afterlife.
The Everywhen exists beyond the traditional realms associated with individual mythologies and serves as a meeting place for gods from different cultures.
And that immediately creates a fascinating question:
What happens when gods from completely different mythologies end up trapped in the same world?
According to the game's premise, the answer isn't particularly peaceful.
The Everywhen is filled with powerful beings competing for influence, creating a dangerous political and supernatural landscape that Faye must navigate.
🏛️ A God of War Multiverse of Mythologies
One of the most exciting aspects of Laufey is its expansion beyond Norse mythology.
The Everywhen allows Santa Monica Studio to introduce characters and legends from cultures that haven't previously played a major role in the modern God of War saga.
Two major figures have already been highlighted.
Sekhmet
The Egyptian goddess of war is one of the major threats Faye encounters.
Known for her ferocity and bloodlust, Sekhmet becomes a major force within the Everywhen and captures Faye early in her journey.
Her inclusion opens the door to an entirely new mythology for the franchise.
Begtse
The Mongolian lord of war and wrathful dharmapala represents another major addition to the God of War universe.
Unlike the gods Faye knew in Midgard, these new opponents come from completely different mythological traditions, giving the adventure a very different atmosphere.
🧩 Faye Won't Be Fighting Alone
The Everywhen may be filled with gods, but Faye isn't completely on her own.
She encounters several unusual companions during her journey.
Phranque
Phranque is described as a protective cosmic cube that accompanies Faye through the strange realm.
It's an appropriately bizarre companion for a game taking place in a world where the normal rules of mythology no longer seem to apply.
Rue
Rue is an enchanted ribbon guardian connected to a powerful sword.
Beyond providing assistance to Faye, Rue is tied to some of the deeper mysteries surrounding the Everywhen and its supernatural inhabitants.
Together, these characters give Faye an entirely different supporting cast from the one surrounding Kratos.
🔥 Why the Everywhen Changes Everything
The Everywhen isn't just an excuse to introduce new enemies.
It potentially changes the entire scope of the God of War universe.
The previous games established that different mythological traditions could exist within the same broader world. But Laufey appears ready to push that concept much further.
Instead of traveling between familiar Norse realms, Faye can encounter gods with completely different origins, traditions and motivations.
That means the franchise is no longer limited to:
Greek mythology → Norse mythology
It can potentially become something much larger.
And for a series built around gods fighting gods, that's an enormous playground.
📖 A Story Happening Alongside the Original Games
One of the most interesting elements of God of War: Laufey is its timeline.
The story takes place alongside the events of the recent God of War games, particularly the period surrounding the 2018 title and Ragnarök.
The story begins after Faye's funeral.
While Kratos and Atreus believe they have said goodbye to her in Midgard, Faye awakens somewhere completely unexpected.
From there, the story explores what she experiences beyond death while simultaneously revealing more about the plans she made for her family.
That gives players a new perspective on events they thought they already understood.
🕹️ Is This Really a Mainline God of War Game?
That's one of the most interesting questions surrounding the project.
Santa Monica Studio has positioned Laufey as an expansion of the God of War universe, rather than simply treating it as a disposable side adventure.
The game is also designed to bridge narrative gaps and prepare the franchise for its next major chapter.
So while Kratos isn't the protagonist, the story could still have major consequences for where the franchise goes next.
And considering how much Faye's decisions shaped Kratos and Atreus, putting her at the center may reveal that she was always far more important to the larger story than players realized.
💿 Physical Release Confirmed
Physical media fans have another reason to be excited.
Santa Monica Studio has confirmed that God of War: Laufey will receive a physical disc release.
That's particularly notable as major publishers increasingly experiment with digital-first distribution.
For collectors and preservation enthusiasts, having a physical copy means the game can still have a place on a shelf rather than existing exclusively as a digital license.
📅 Release Date and Platform
God of War: Laufey is scheduled to launch on:
February 16, 2027
The game is currently confirmed exclusively for:
- PlayStation 5
Santa Monica Studio is using the project to expand the God of War universe while keeping the experience focused on current-generation hardware.
👀 What Makes God of War: Laufey So Interesting?
The easiest way to describe the game is:
It's God of War without Kratos at the center.
But that undersells what Santa Monica Studio appears to be attempting.
We're getting:
- A completely new playable protagonist
- A supernatural realm outside traditional afterlives
- Egyptian mythology
- Mongolian mythology
- New companions
- A story connected to the events of the recent games
- A deeper look at Faye's history and motivations
- A potential bridge toward the franchise's next major chapter
Most importantly, the game has an opportunity to answer questions that the previous games could only tease.
Who was Faye before she became Kratos' wife?
What did she know about the future?
And why did she make the choices that ultimately shaped the entire Norse saga?
Those questions could make Laufey much more important than its unusual premise initially suggests.
🎮 The Bottom Line
God of War: Laufey is taking one of PlayStation's most recognizable franchises and doing something genuinely risky:
Putting Kratos on the sidelines.
Instead, Faye gets to tell a story of her own.
By sending her into the Everywhen and introducing Egyptian and Mongolian gods alongside the established mythology, Santa Monica Studio has created a setting with almost limitless possibilities.
Whether you're here for Faye's story, the bizarre new realm, or simply because you want to see what happens when completely different pantheons collide, Laufey has something that the recent games didn't:
The element of surprise.
And when it arrives on February 16, 2027, we'll finally discover whether Faye's story can carry the weight of the God of War name without Kratos leading the charge.