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Gaming

Kratos Isn't Going Anywhere, Sony Reassures Nervous Fans After Faye Takes the Spotlight

Emily Chen 0 comments 7 min read
Kratos Isn't Going Anywhere, Sony Reassures Nervous Fans After Faye Takes the Spotlight

Santa Monica Studio moved quickly to calm franchise concerns this week, with studio leadership confirming that Kratos remains central to God of War's future despite the upcoming spinoff placing his wife Faye front and center.

The assurance came during interviews tied to the reveal of God of War Laufey, a new entry that shifts narrative focus to Faye's journey through the Norse afterlife. In a PlayStation YouTube interview, creative head Cory Barlog stated flatly that "there's always going to be Kratos games." The official studio account doubled down on social media, declaring they had "many more stories to tell with him."

Reception to Laufey's gameplay debut has split the fanbase. While some players praised the combat and visual design shown in the reveal, others griped about simplified mechanics in the opening sequence and the glaring absence of the franchise's most recognizable character from the spotlight.

Laufey's 20-minute gameplay showcase at this week's PlayStation State of Play featured only brief Kratos moments. He appears mourning Faye's death in a scene carried over from 2018's God of War, then resurfaces to aid her during a brief imprisonment. Beyond those glimpses, his role remains unclear, though the studio noted he's occupied with the events of God of War Ragnarök during this period.

Barlog framed the spinoff as narrative expansion rather than departure. "Faye is part of the larger tapestry of what we truly want to explore, all of these different characters in there," he explained. "But there's always going to be Kratos games throughout the whole history."

Director Ariel Lawrence echoed the sentiment, offering a lighter take: "We can't not tell stories about the big guy."

The studio's commitment to Kratos extends beyond reassurance. Santa Monica revealed it's working on a full remake of the original God of War trilogy, the Greek saga that launched the franchise in 2005 and concluded in 2010 with God of War 3. That project sits in early development with no release window announced, but it will definitively restore Kratos as the central protagonist.

Barlog previously told IGN that choosing Faye allowed the team to revisit foundational material. "We'll always tell stories about Kratos, but it was just a chance to talk about somebody who was so pivotal to the beginning," he said. "For us, it's not a departure, it's more of an expansion."

Author Emily Chen: "Studios panic the moment a beloved hero steps backstage, but this feels genuinely planned rather than defensive, especially with the Greek trilogy remake quietly cooking in the kitchen."

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