God of War Laufey is the next mainline entry in the God of War series, developed by Santa Monica Studio for the PlayStation 5. It was announced on June 2, 2026 as the closing reveal of a PlayStation State of Play, where roughly twenty minutes of gameplay were shown, and it launches on February 16, 2027. For the first time in the series, the player does not control Kratos: the lead is Faye, also known as Laufey, his late wife and the mother of Atreus.
Premise
After her funeral, Faye awakens unexpectedly in the Everywhen, the afterlife of the gods. It is a realm steeped in the oldest magic, and her own soul-related abilities are greatly amplified there. The plans she had set in place to protect Kratos and Atreus are now at risk. To save the ones she loves she must fight through a realm where gods from many mythologies struggle for power, uncover the truth behind her situation, and find a way home. Rather than a prequel, the studio describes the game as a continuation of the timeline that runs parallel to God of War (2018), beginning around the moment Faye is laid to rest, as Kratos and Atreus set out to scatter her ashes at the highest peak in all the realms.
The game is presented under the tagline Find your way home, and describes it as an entry that can be enjoyed completely standalone, without having played the earlier Norse-era games first. It is billed as a vast world to explore, an expansive afterlife of the gods where deities from a host of mythologies contend for power across rich, ethereal landscapes.
Gameplay
Laufey pairs an intimate, brutal combat style with exploration and a story-led structure. Faye flows freely between the ground and the air, and her signature Golden Hand power lets her tear the souls from her enemies. She wields a legendary sword and is joined by two companions she meets in the Everywhen, Phranque and Rue.
Fast Facts
Field | Detail |
|---|---|
Developer | Santa Monica Studio |
Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
Platform | PlayStation 5 |
Release | February 16, 2027 |
Genre | Action-adventure |
Game Director | Ariel Lawrence |
Head of Creative | Cory Barlog |
See Development and Announcement for the reveal details and Release Date and Platforms for availability. This article covers details confirmed so far and will grow as Santa Monica Studio shares more.