Corey Barlog Breaks Down the Timeline of ‘God of War: Laufey’ and What It Means for the Series
According to details shared by Santa Monica Studio during PlayStation’s State of Play showcase, God of War: Laufey marks a major shift for the long-running franchise. The game puts Faye, also known as Laufey the Just, in the spotlight instead of Kratos. Faye is Kratos’ wife and Atreus’ mother, and this is the first time she takes center stage in the series.
Game director Ariel Lawrence explained that the goal is not to leave Kratos behind, but to expand the world around him. She said, “We’ll always tell stories about Kratos, but I think for us, it was just a chance to talk about somebody who was so pivotal to the beginning, to get to know them and push beyond into this new world and give us some place to be surprised and see how things connect. So for us, it’s not a departure; it’s more of an expansion.”
The story begins at the moment of Faye’s funeral from God of War (2018), when her body is burned on the pyre. Instead of staying in the Norse realm, she is transported to a strange afterlife called the Everywhen. This place is described by the developers as a chaotic realm where gods from different mythologies are trapped together. It is not peaceful at all, and survival is a constant struggle.
Cory Barlog, Head of Creative at Santa Monica Studio, described the setting in very blunt terms. He said, “They’re all assholes. Literally every god that exists in all of the mythologies has this really terrible relationship with power and how they abuse all of it.” He explained that the idea was to show what happens when powerful beings from different mythologies are forced into one shared space.
In this new world, Faye meets gods from Egyptian and Mongolian mythology, including Sekhmet and Begtse. Sekhmet is shown as a powerful and dangerous force tied to destruction and war, while Begtse acts as a brutal warrior figure. These characters help shape the harsh environment Faye must survive in.
Even though Faye is new as a playable lead, the developers stress she is not weak compared to Kratos. Ariel Lawrence explained that her fighting style is very different. “Kratos is like a brick wall, and a little stoic, but his brutality is different. How do we show somebody who’s as equal as she is?” she said. Faye uses speed, agility, and magic instead of pure strength.
Cory Barlog also explained that magic plays a bigger role for Faye than it ever did for Kratos. He said, “With Faye, magic is a part of her.” In the Everywhen, magic is even stronger than in previous realms, making her abilities grow as the story continues.
The game also introduces unusual companions, including a sword trapped inside a living cosmic cube named Phranque, and a ribbon-like guardian called Rue. These strange allies follow Faye through the journey, adding more mystery to her story.
Despite Kratos not being the main character, he and Atreus are still connected to Faye’s journey. The developers confirmed that the timelines of God of War (2018), Ragnarök, and Laufey all exist in parallel, forming one shared universe.
Barlog summed it up by saying, “This is all a new chapter in the same book, a massive book, and we are starting to show that this has more than you could have imagined.”
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!
