I've loved the God of War franchise since its inception and my love for the series is tied directly to Kratos. The dude is on my desktop wallpaper. I coached high school basketball and I ran a horns set and called it "Kratos." That's how much I love the character.

Clearly, I'm not alone. While some fans have loved the reveal of God of War Laufey with Kratos' deceased wife Faye as the main protagonist, others are already missing Kratos.

  • Game: God of War Laufey, a PS5 spin-off (no release date announced)
  • Lead: Faye (Laufey), voiced by Deborah Ann Woll
  • Setting: the Everywhen, a cross-mythology afterlife of the gods
  • Companions: Phranque the cosmic cube (Jack Quaid) and Rue (Perlina Lau)
  • Status: Kratos is not the playable lead

What Is God Of War Laufey?

The upcoming title, which doesn't have a release date, is a spinoff from the Kratos-led games. Most recently, God of War: Ragnarok, which was awesome.

In Laufey, Faye is trapped in the Everywhen and she is charged with battling gods from different mythologies to secure the future she promised to Kratos and Atreus. It's a pretty cool concept and the gameplay looks strong.

Per PlayStation's reveal , Faye wakes after her funeral to find the plans she made to protect Kratos and Atreus suddenly at risk, pushing her through the Everywhen against gods like the Egyptian war deity Sekhmet. She is voiced again by Deborah Ann Woll and joined by new companions, including a cosmic cube named Phranque, played by Jack Quaid.

Why Are God Of War Fans Upset About Laufey?

Many fans are upset because Kratos isn't a playable character. One fan on Instagram asked why it's even called God of War if Kratos isn't in it, and told Sony to just change the name. Another cracked that a God of War without the god of war makes perfect sense.

Let's not kid ourselves, some people are upset because they're petty and sexist and can't fathom playing an action-adventure title with a female lead. That's not me. Horizon, Tomb Raider are two of my favorite series and Split Fiction is one of the best titles I encountered in 2025.

For me and some others, this is about Kratos. Sony gave us a character so amazing that every release of a title in the series is a new chance to use him. To be honest, a God of War title without Kratos feels strange.

I'm hardcore, so I'm going to play Laufey anyway, but I'd be lying if I said I won't miss Kratos' presence in the title.

The reaction has been split rather than one-sided, with plenty of fans praising Faye's faster, more acrobatic combat even as the Kratos camp pushes back. The loudest critic was original series creator David Jaffe , who panned the reveal on a livestream, though he has been a vocal skeptic of the modern Norse games since 2018.

Is Faye A Downgrade From Kratos?

It doesn't appear as though Faye is a downgrade. Her powers are substantial and she brings more to the table than might and explosiveness.

Santa Monica has framed Faye as Kratos' equal rather than a lighter alternative, building a faster, more agile style around her Golden Hand of the Jötnar, an ability that lets her rip a god's soul from its body.

The studio's stated goal was a fresh feel that still carries the weighty, punishing combat that defined the 2018 reboot and Ragnarök, and early reactions to the fighting have leaned positive.

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What Does Sony Need To Do About The Kratos Problem?

At this point, there isn't much Sony can do about this issue. It's all-in with Faye as the lead for Laufey. We'll find out just how attached fans are to Kratos.

Kratos is the face that turned the franchise into a PlayStation pillar, so putting him off the box, even for a spin-off, was always going to sting.

The smartest move may be messaging clarity: Santa Monica has signaled Kratos remains central to the series' future, and leaning into that reassurance could blunt the backlash while Faye gets her moment.