God of War Laufey Finally Has a Release Date

Santa Monica Studio has finally stopped teasing us and put an actual date on God of War Laufey. The upcoming PlayStation 5 adventure will launch on February 16, 2027, giving fans a little over six months to prepare for a God of War game in which Kratos is, surprisingly, not the one doing all the smashing.

Yes, the franchise is putting its famously grumpy Greek-to-Norse murder machine on the sidelines for a moment. Instead, God of War Laufey puts the spotlight on Faye, the woman better known to fans as Laufey and, of course, Kratos' late wife and Atreus' mother.

And if you were worried that this meant Santa Monica Studio was quietly waving goodbye to Kratos, you can put the funeral candles away. The studio has something else cooking.

Faye has unfinished business with the afterlife

God of War Laufey takes Faye somewhere the franchise hasn't really explored before: the Everywhen, a mysterious realm where death apparently isn't quite as permanent as advertised.

Faye finds herself caught up in a dangerous supernatural adventure involving gods, magic and enough mythological chaos to make a family reunion with Kratos sound comparatively relaxing. The game will also give players a different combat experience, with Faye's more agile fighting style contrasting with the lumbering, axe-swinging brutality we've become accustomed to with Kratos.

So, instead of Kratos smashing everything in sight and asking questions approximately three hours later, we're getting a protagonist who can move, dodge and fight with a considerably different rhythm. Honestly, after watching Kratos solve most of his problems with an axe, some variety probably isn't a bad thing.

Don't worry, Kratos is coming back

The biggest surprise surrounding the announcement isn't actually the release date. It's what happens after God of War Laufey. During the game's San Diego Comic-Con panel, Cory Barlog confirmed that another mainline God of War game starring Kratos is in development. Better still, God of War Laufey won't simply exist in its own little mythological bubble. Its story will connect directly with the next Kratos-led game.

In other words, Santa Monica Studio isn't replacing Kratos. It's taking the scenic route. That makes God of War Laufey considerably more important to the overall saga than the word "spin-off" might suggest. Faye's story will apparently establish elements that will carry forward into the next major chapter, meaning players who skip it could potentially be missing pieces of the bigger picture. And considering how much God of War loves turning seemingly insignificant details into gigantic revelations later, that's probably worth keeping in mind.

The next God of War era starts here

There are still plenty of questions surrounding the next Kratos game. Santa Monica Studio hasn't revealed its release date, and the developer is keeping details about its setting and story safely locked inside a vault that would probably require Kratos himself to open. For now, though, God of War Laufey is the next stop.

The game will arrive on February 16, 2027, exclusively on PS5, with a physical edition also planned. That gives Faye the opportunity to step out of the shadows and finally tell her own story while simultaneously preparing the stage for Kratos' next bloody chapter. So yes, Kratos is taking a break. No, he's not actually going anywhere. And knowing him, he'll probably be extremely annoyed about whatever Faye gets up to while he's away. In any case you can rest assured that our comparator will offer you the best deals for that future Kratos game as it offers God of War Laufey at the lowest price now.