Santa Monica Studio has revealed a substantial amount of new information about God of War Laufey through a developer discussion featuring Head of Creative Cory Barlog and Game Director Ariel Lawrence, offering the clearest look yet at the PlayStation 5 exclusive’s story, setting, gameplay, and future role within the franchise.
One of the biggest revelations is that God of War Laufey is not a prequel. While many fans expected the game to explore Faye’s life before meeting Kratos, the story instead begins immediately after her death. According to Lawrence, the team deliberately chose to continue the timeline established by God of War (2018) rather than revisit the past.
“We wanted to start exactly where the players were,” Lawrence explained. “Faye’s dead, and she finds herself in the afterlife of the gods. There she discovers some things that make her question whether or not Kratos and Atreus are safe. And she’s determined to find a way back to help them.”
Barlog revealed that the studio initially considered telling a story set before Faye’s death, including events such as the forging of the Leviathan Axe with Brok and Sindri. However, the development team ultimately felt that exploring the aftermath of her death offered a more compelling direction for the franchise. He described Faye as one of his favorite characters in the entire series, praising her influence on the journey of both Kratos and Atreus.
The game takes place in an entirely new setting known as the afterlife of the gods. Lawrence described the realm as both the origin and final destination of divine magic, existing above the mortal world and serving as a crossroads where multiple mythologies intersect. This setting will allow Santa Monica Studio to introduce new mythological figures while revisiting unanswered questions from God of War Ragnarök.
Among those lingering mysteries is the fate of gods after death. According to Lawrence, players will finally receive answers, though the realm itself is far from peaceful. She explained that magic has become unstable and that the afterlife currently functions more like a prison than a paradise. The realm is ruled by Sekhmet and Begtse, two gods of war who have imposed a violent order on its inhabitants.
On the gameplay side, Santa Monica Studio is introducing several changes designed around Faye’s unique abilities and personality. Lawrence noted that Faye is considerably more agile than Kratos and embraces magic in a way that contrasts with his more cautious approach. As a result, traversal and combat have been redesigned to better reflect her fighting style.
One of the most notable gameplay additions is the return of jumping. “One of the first things that excited the team was that we brought jump back into the game. Kratos hasn’t jumped for a little while,” Lawrence said. The team also looked back at elements from the franchise’s Greek-era entries, combining their faster movement and fluidity with the character-driven storytelling established during the Norse saga.
The discussion also provided additional insight into Faye’s character. Lawrence described her as far more than the loving wife and mother previously seen through flashbacks and memories. According to the director, Faye is also a warrior, protector, and rebellion leader whose story has only begun to be explored. Her curiosity, honesty, and improvisational nature will help distinguish her from Kratos throughout the adventure.
Santa Monica Studio additionally confirmed several cast members. Deborah Ann Woll returns as Faye, with both Lawrence and Barlog praising her performance. The team also highlighted the work of Jack Quaid and Perlina, who plays the character Rue, noting their chemistry with the rest of the cast.
Although a release date has not yet been announced, Barlog assured fans that more information will be shared in the coming months as the studio moves closer to launch. For now, the newly revealed details suggest that God of War Laufey is aiming to significantly expand the franchise’s mythology while introducing a different style of protagonist and gameplay without abandoning the series’ core identity.
