Sony ended its State of Play 2026 showcase with a surprise: more than 20 minutes of gameplay from a new God of War title. The game is called God of War: Laufey, and it marks a significant departure from the series by centering on a new protagonist.
Laufey, also known as Faye, was the wife of series lead Kratos and the mother of Atreus. She died before the events of the 2018 God of War, which opens with Kratos burning her body. The new game picks up from that moment. Embers from the funeral pyre rise and take shape, and Faye awakens in what appears to be Valhalla.
The setting Sony's blog describes is a place "where ruthless gods from across mythology vie for power in a land overflowing with dangerous magic." As Faye explores, she encounters an army taking over the land and corrupting its creatures. She is then confronted by two apparent leaders: Sekhmet, a god of war from Egyptian mythology, and Begtse, a god of war from Mongolian mythology.
The pair capture Faye and lock her in a cage. In the cell next to her is an unusual companion: a gelatinous cube with a sword stuck through it, trailing ribbons. The cube is named Phranque. The ribbons are named Rue. Both talk to Faye and explain that they are in the afterlife of the gods, which they call Everywhen.
The combat system shown in the footage carries the familiar feel of previous God of War games. Faye can chain combo attacks and use Phranque as a combat aid. The gameplay video closes with a confrontation against Begtse. Both Begtse and another escaped prisoner suggest the sword Faye carries is more significant than she realizes.
God of War: Laufey is a PS5 exclusive. Sony did not announce a release date or price at the time of the showcase.
