God of War Laufey put Faye at the center of the next mainline entry, and that swap left a lot of players asking a blunt question. Is Kratos finished as a playable lead? Cory Barlog, Santa Monica Studio's Head of Creative, says no. In a sit-down with Laufey game director Ariel Lawrence, he made clear that the Spartan's arc continues and that new Kratos-led games remain part of the plan.
Quick answer: Kratos will return as a lead in future God of War games. God of War Laufey, which stars Faye, is a separate thread inside the same universe, not a replacement for Kratos.
Cory Barlog confirms Kratos-led God of War games are still coming
During the conversation about Laufey's story and combat, Barlog addressed the future of the series head-on. He framed Faye's game as one piece of a much bigger plan rather than a pivot away from its longtime protagonist.
That settles the main worry that surfaced after the reveal, which was whether Kratos's role in the saga ended with God of War Ragnarok. It does not. Barlog did not say where the next Kratos game takes place or when it arrives, only that the character keeps returning as a lead across the franchise's future.
How God of War Laufey fits alongside Kratos
God of War Laufey was announced at a PlayStation State of Play and follows Faye, also called Laufey, as she travels through the Everywhen, described as the place where all magic begins and returns. Deborah Ann Woll reprises Faye after first voicing the character in God of War Ragnarok. The gameplay reveal showed Faye encountering Sekhmet and Begtse, drawn from Egyptian and Tibetan Buddhist mythology, signaling a wider mythological scope than the Norse setting.
The early cast is small. Here is who has been confirmed so far.
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Deborah Ann Woll | Faye / Laufey |
| Jack Quaid | Phranque, a talking cosmic cube |
| Perlina Lau | Rue, an enchanted ribbon guardian tied to Faye's weapon |
Barlog has stressed that Laufey is a continuation of the timeline rather than a prequel. The studio has not announced a release date for the game. You can find the official reveal on the PlayStation Blog first look at God of War Laufey.
Barlog's new role guiding the whole God of War series
Part of why a Faye-led game and continued Kratos games can coexist comes down to how Santa Monica is now organized. Barlog has stepped back from directing individual entries and instead guides the long-term creative vision across the entire God of War series, while game directors like Ariel Lawrence and Eric Williams run specific projects. The structure mirrors how a single creative lead can shepherd a multi-game arc while giving each director room to work.
That setup is meant to keep the larger story cohesive between releases, so a spin-off like Laufey and the next mainline Kratos game pull toward the same overall plan rather than drifting apart.
What's rumored for the next Kratos game
Barlog confirmed more Kratos games but shared no destination for the character. Outside of his comments, there has been persistent talk that a future numbered entry could move Kratos into a new mythological setting, with Egyptian mythology coming up repeatedly. None of that has been officially confirmed by Sony or Santa Monica, so treat it as speculation.
Realistically, a new Kratos game is unlikely to be detailed until after God of War Laufey ships. For now the confirmed point is the one that mattered most to worried fans. Kratos is still a lead in the franchise's future, and Santa Monica intends to keep telling his story alongside the new characters it is introducing.