Kratos Will Get More Games After God of War Laufey, Santa Monica Confirms
Kratos isn’t hanging up his axe just yet. Sony Santa Monica Studio has confirmed that the Ghost of Sparta will headline further God of War instalments even as the franchise’s next mainline release, God of War Laufey, hands the controller to his late wife Faye for the first time in the series’ history.
The reassurance came straight from the top. In a sit-down interview posted to the PlayStation YouTube channel following the game’s reveal, Santa Monica Studio’s Head of Creative Cory Barlog told Laufey game director Ariel Lawrence that “It’s exciting. Faye is, while it’s a different thing, it’s still part of the larger tapestry of what we truly want to explore, all these different characters in there,” he said. “But there’s always going to be Kratos games throughout the whole history.” Lawrence echoed the sentiment, adding that “We can’t not tell stories about the big guy.”
Santa Monica Studio addresses fan anxiety over dropping Kratos
The comments followed a wave of concern after Santa Monica Studio unveiled God of War Laufey during PlayStation’s State of Play on June 2, 2026, closing the show with more than 20 minutes of gameplay footage. Responding to fan questions on X, the official Santa Monica Studio account for the game wrote that “Kratos is the God of War – we have many more stories to tell with him. For now, we’re excited to take fans on a journey into the afterlife of the gods with Faye and hope you’ll come along for the ride!”
Laufey director Ariel Lawrence, who joined the project after previously working as a Narrative Director at Riot Games, has also stressed the studio isn’t abandoning its most famous character. Speaking to GameSpot, she said “I understand everybody’s reservations and hesitations and I know that it comes from a good place. They have been on that journey with Kratos as long as I have, right? And it means something to them and I hope that this is more of a ‘yes and’ for expanding. We’re not leaving anybody behind. We’ve got plenty more Kratos coming. This is really just a place for adventure to go beyond what we had.”
Faye’s journey through the Everywhen sets up what’s next
God of War Laufey follows Faye, Kratos’ wife and Atreus’ mother, whose death opens the events of 2018’s God of War. According to the official PlayStation Blog reveal, the game explores “Faye has long been one of the impactful characters in God of War’s Norse saga. A legendary warrior and leader — her impact was left on the Nine Realms long before she ever met Kratos. God of War Laufey brings Faye to the forefront — exploring the humanity, strengths, and flaws of the person whose legacy was beloved in the minds of many.”
Per the official storefront description, Death was supposed to be the end, but for Laufey (Faye), warrior and wife to Kratos, a new adventure is just beginning. Awakening unexpectedly in a strange land after her death, Faye discovers the plans she put in place to protect Kratos and Atreus in her absence are now at risk. To save the ones she loves, Faye must fight through the afterlife of the gods – the Everywhen – where ruthless gods from across mythology vie for power in a land overflowing with dangerous magic. Game director Ariel Lawrence has framed the setting as a direct answer to a question Ragnarök left hanging, telling Game Informer that “I think in [God of War Ragnarök], Odin really was kind of taken by that question: ‘What happens when we die?’ ‘We know what happens to the mortals when they die, but what happens to us?’ And so this is an answer for that question, what happens to gods when they die. Things aren’t working quite exactly the way they should be in this afterlife of the gods. Magic isn’t flowing exactly the way that it should be. So this afterlife’s not exactly a paradise.”
Kratos does appear briefly in the reveal footage, and Santa Monica Studio has been coy on exactly what role he’ll play beyond Laufey, but the studio’s messaging points to him remaining a recurring presence rather than being written out of the saga entirely.
Physical disc confirmation points to an early 2027 launch
Beyond Kratos’ future, Santa Monica Studio has also narrowed down when players can expect to step into Faye’s boots. On July 10, the studio’s official God of War Laufey account on X stated plainly that “We can confirm God of War Laufey will be available on disc.”
That single line carries weight because of Sony’s own roadmap. As Video Games Chronicle reported, since Sony’s cut-off for the production of physical disc games is January 2028, Santa Monica Studio’s statement heavily implies that God of War Laufey will release sometime next year, as only games released in 2027 or earlier will be able to reprint physical discs. The disc confirmation arrived amid ongoing backlash over Sony’s decision to end new physical game production, a policy shift that has already drawn a large fan petition.
San Diego Comic-Con panel lands at a friendly hour for NZ and AU fans
Santa Monica Studio is following up its disc confirmation with a San Diego Comic-Con panel on July 24, featuring director Ariel Lawrence alongside stars Deborah Ann Woll, who voices Faye, and Christopher Judge, the long-time voice of Kratos. Unlike many SDCC streams that fall in the middle of the night for Australasian viewers, the panel’s 5:30 PM Pacific start time lines up with early afternoon in New Zealand and mid-morning on Australia’s east coast, giving local fans a rare chance to watch the reveal live rather than catching up the next day.
With no firm release date locked in yet, God of War Laufey remains in development at Sony Santa Monica for PlayStation 5. What’s clear from the studio’s own statements is that Faye’s trip through the Everywhen isn’t a farewell to Kratos, but a bridge to whatever mythology he tackles next.
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