God of War Laufey announced for PS5 starring Faye

Sony Santa Monica has announced God of War Laufey, a new PS5 exclusive starring Faye (Laufey the Just), Kratos's wife who died in the 2018 God of War. As reported by Video Games Chronicle, the studio premiered 20 minutes of gameplay during a recent State of Play event. The game marks a bold new direction for the franchise, focusing on a character previously seen only in flashbacks and memories.

What is God of War Laufey about?

According to Santa Monica Studio, Faye awakens unexpectedly in a strange land after her funeral, discovering that her plans to protect Kratos and Atreus are now at risk. The synopsis reveals that "death was supposed to be the end, but for Laufey (Faye), warrior and wife to Kratos, a new adventure is just beginning."

Faye must fight through the afterlife of the gods—a realm called the Everywhen—where ruthless gods from across mythology compete for power in a land overflowing with dangerous magic. This mystical location serves as the "birthplace and endpoint to which all magic returns" and brings together gods and creatures from different mythologies, often in conflict.

The game opens with Faye's death scene from the God of War trilogy remake, then shows her mysterious rebirth and capture by an unknown faction. Santa Monica Studio describes the experience as featuring "intimate, brutal combat", exploration of a rich world, and story at its core.

Who's directing God of War Laufey?

Ariel Lawrence, a 17-year veteran of Santa Monica Studio, directs God of War Laufey. Lawrence has worked on every God of War game in the series, notably serving as producer on Ghost of Sparta and Ascension. This makes her one of the most experienced God of War developers to helm a mainline entry.

Creative director Cory Barlog, who directed 2018's God of War but stepped aside for Ragnarök, is understood to be working on the new project. The development represents Santa Monica Studio's continued commitment to expanding the God of War universe beyond Kratos's story.

How does the combat system work?

Santa Monica Studio says Laufey will build on the strengths of the modern God of War combat system while "injecting some old school, classic DNA of the Greek era." The key innovation is Faye's enhanced mobility, allowing her to move easily between ground and air without halting the action.

According to the developers, "by allowing Faye to move easily between ground and air without halting the action, we've refined a hyper-responsiveness to her combat that we can't wait for players to experience." Her increased mobility adds numerous offensive and defensive tools to turn battles against even the fiercest gods in her favour.

The gameplay demo showed Faye taking on various otherworldly foes using melee combat that feels both familiar to God of War fans and distinctly different due to her unique fighting style and aerial capabilities.

Who will Faye encounter in the Everywhen?

According to community manager Grace Orlady, the gameplay revealed two gods that Faye will encounter: Sekhmet and Begtse, both described as "decidedly less than friendly towards a new face suddenly appearing in their midst." These represent just a sample of the mythological beings inhabiting the Everywhen.

Faye is joined by new companion characters, including Phranque, a cosmic cube companion voiced by Jack Quaid, and Rue, an "enchanted ribbon" voiced by Perlina Lau. Deborah Ann Woll returns to voice Faye, maintaining continuity with her portrayal in previous God of War games.

Santa Monica Studio explains that Faye "quickly discovers that despite the impossibility of awakening from death in a place that defies everything she thought she knew, it may prove even harder to leave while the natural flow of magic has been disrupted." This suggests the Everywhen operates under different rules than the mortal realm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Laufey in God of War?

Laufey, also known as Faye, is Kratos's deceased wife and Atreus's mother in the God of War series. She was a giant warrior who played a crucial role in the Norse saga despite dying before the events of the 2018 game.

What is God of War Laufey about?

God of War Laufey stars Faye, who awakens in an afterlife realm called the Everywhen and must fight to protect Kratos and Atreus. She battles gods from various mythologies in this magical realm to save her family.

Who is directing God of War Laufey?

Ariel Lawrence, a 17-year veteran of Santa Monica Studio who has worked on every God of War game, is directing God of War Laufey. She previously served as producer on Ghost of Sparta and Ascension.

When does God of War Laufey release?

Sony Santa Monica has not announced a release date for God of War Laufey. The game was revealed during a State of Play event with 20 minutes of gameplay footage.

What platform is God of War Laufey on?

God of War Laufey is confirmed as a PlayStation 5 exclusive. No other platforms have been announced for the game at this time.

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