For months, rumors have circulated that Santa Monica Studio wanted to tell more stories centered on Faye, the wife of Kratos whose death set the events of 2018’s God of War into motion.
Now those rumors have become reality.
During Sony’s latest State of Play showcase, PlayStation officially revealed God of War Laufey, a new entry in the long-running franchise that puts Faye in the lead role while leaving Kratos out of the spotlight entirely.
The announcement immediately sparked debate among fans. While some players are excited to finally learn more about a character who has largely existed in the background, others see the move as yet another example of a major gaming franchise moving away from the male protagonist who made it famous.
Sony Says Faye’s Story Has Been Years in the Making
According to Santa Monica Studio creative director Cory Barlog, the decision to focus on Faye wasn’t something that emerged recently.
Speaking with IGN, Barlog explained that the studio had wanted to explore the character for years.
“We’ll always tell stories about Kratos,” Barlog said. “But I think for us, it was just a chance to talk about somebody who was so pivotal to the beginning and get to know them and push beyond into this new world and give us some place to be surprised and see how things connect.”
Barlog insisted that the move should not be viewed as abandoning Kratos.
“So for us, it’s not a departure; it’s more of an expansion,” he said.
The longtime God of War developer also noted that Faye played a major role in the modern Norse saga despite rarely appearing on screen.
“She was omnipresent but visually not represented,” Barlog explained. “In 2018 she was a feeling; she was a phantom and a specter but one whose tendrils stretched out through the entirety of the narrative.”
From Santa Monica Studio’s perspective, God of War Laufey represents an opportunity to finally tell the story of a character who has been influencing events behind the scenes for nearly a decade.
Fans Have Seen This Pattern Before
Whether players embrace that explanation remains to be seen.
One reason the reveal generated such a strong reaction is because many gamers believe they have seen this pattern repeatedly throughout the industry.
A scene from God of War Laufey – PlayStation
PlayStation itself has become a frequent target of those criticisms.
Ghost of Yōtei moved away from Jin Sakai following the success of Ghost of Tsushima. The Last of Us Part II dramatically shifted focus from Joel to Ellie and Abby. Now one of PlayStation’s most iconic franchises appears to be following a similar path.
For many fans, Kratos isn’t simply another protagonist.
He is God of War.
Kratos in God of War – Santa Monica Studios
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The character has been carrying the franchise since 2005 and remains one of the most recognizable faces in gaming. Removing him from the starring role was always going to be controversial regardless of who replaced him.
That reality is reflected throughout the online reaction to the reveal, where many longtime fans have questioned why Sony felt the need to move away from the character that helped build the franchise into one of PlayStation’s flagship properties.
Santa Monica Studio Says Faye Fights Very Differently Than Kratos
The footage shown during State of Play suggests Santa Monica Studio is making a significant effort to differentiate Faye from her husband.
Game director Ariel Lawrence explained that the team looked to multiple eras of God of War while designing her combat style.
“Kratos is like a brick wall, and he’s a little stoic, but it’s just that his brutality is different,” Lawrence said.
A scene from God of War Laufey – PlayStation
Rather than replicating Kratos’ slower, heavier fighting style, the developers appear to be leaning into a more agile approach that still maintains the series’ trademark brutality.
Lawrence also revealed that both the Greek-era and Norse-era games influenced Faye’s combat design.
The goal, according to Santa Monica Studio, is to create a character who feels distinct while still feeling like she belongs within the God of War universe.
Questions About Sweet Baby Inc. Are Already Emerging
Another topic likely to become part of the discussion is whether Sweet Baby Inc. had any involvement with God of War Laufey.
The narrative consulting firm previously worked on God of War Ragnarök and has become one of the most controversial companies in the gaming industry.
Sweet Baby Inc. CEO Kim Belair via InclusionFX YouTube
Critics have frequently accused Sweet Baby Inc. of encouraging developers to move established franchises toward representation-focused storytelling and away from legacy male protagonists.
At this point there is no evidence that Sweet Baby Inc. is involved with God of War Laufey. Neither Sony nor Santa Monica Studio has announced any partnership with the company regarding the new project.
However, given the firm’s previous connection to the franchise and the decision to replace Kratos with Faye as the playable lead, it is almost certain that fans will continue asking the question.
The Success of God of War Laufey Will Depend on One Thing
Sony can explain the creative rationale all it wants.
Ultimately, players will decide whether this direction works.
The challenge isn’t convincing fans that Faye is capable of carrying a sword or winning a fight. The footage shown during State of Play suggests she can do both.
Promotional art from God of War Laufey – PlayStation
The challenge is convincing longtime God of War fans that a franchise built around Kratos still feels like God of War when Kratos is no longer the one in front of the controller.
That question won’t be answered by interviews, trailers, or developer explanations.
It will be answered when players finally get their hands on God of War Laufey.
How do you feel about God of War Laufey? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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