Kratos Will Remain Central to Future God of War Stories, Developers Confirm

During yesterday’s showcase, Santa Monica Studio unveiled God of War: Laufey, a new spin-off that centers on Kratos’ wife, Faye, as she navigates the afterlife. This game runs alongside the 2018 reboot and marks the first time a God of War title doesn’t feature Kratos as the main playable character. However, the developers emphasized that while they’re exploring new characters, Kratos will continue to be the core of the franchise moving forward.

Following the showcase, several behind-the-scenes videos were shared, featuring interviews with the cast and footage of actor Jack Quaid performing motion capture for Phranque, a new gelatinous cube companion for Faye on her journey. Additionally, Laufey’s director Ariel Lawrence and Santa Monica Studio’s Head of Creative Cory Barlog discussed the initial concept for a Faye-focused game and the studio’s ambition to broaden the narrative scope beyond Kratos, especially with the expanded cast introduced in the Norse saga. Nonetheless, they reiterated that Kratos remains central to the series.

Barlog expressed his excitement about the potential of characters like Faye and the dwarven blacksmith Sindri, hinting that there’s more to explore with them. While Faye is set to star in her own game, it suggests that Sindri might also have a significant role in future narratives. Given their strained relationship at the end of Ragnarok, it’s uncertain how this exploration will unfold. While a Sindri-led game seems unlikely, it would be an intriguing development. Alternatively, Sindri could return as a supporting character in future quests.

In a separate interview, Barlog confirmed that more stories featuring Kratos are in the pipeline, even as the team diversifies the character focus. He stated, “We’ll always tell stories about Kratos, but this was an opportunity to delve into someone pivotal to the beginning and explore new connections in this expanded world. It’s not a departure; it’s more of an expansion.”

As for Kratos’ future, it remains uncertain. Ragnarok’s Valhalla DLC positioned him as the God of War within the Norse pantheon, confronting his inner demons in a unique playable therapy session. What this means for his journey in the next installment is still up in the air. Meanwhile, Atreus, Kratos and Faye’s son, has a clearer path ahead as he sets out to find the remnants of the Giants alongside Angrboda. Will Atreus embark on his own adventure, or will the father-son duo reunite in a future game?

The Norse entries in God of War have subtly hinted at the Egyptian pantheon, and Laufey appears to be introducing these elements more directly. The game’s reveal features Faye facing off against Sekhmet, the Egyptian goddess of war, and Begtse, the Mongolian god of war, in the afterlife. It’s possible that Laufey will provide insights into the series’ future direction as it makes its way to PlayStation 5 in the coming years.