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New God of War Game Confirmed: Kratos Returns After Laufey
Kratos isn’t done yet. During a San Diego Comic-Con panel this week, Santa Monica Studio confirmed that a new mainline God of War game starring Kratos is officially in development, and it will launch after the upcoming spin-off God of War Laufey, connecting directly to its story.
NEWS SUMMARY
- A new mainline, Kratos-led God of War game is confirmed in development at Santa Monica Studio
- It will release after God of War Laufey and connect directly to its story
- Laufey now has a confirmed release date: February 16, 2027, on PlayStation 5
- No title, trailer, or release date yet for the new Kratos-led game
The reveal came Friday during the “God of War Laufey: Forging God of War’s Next Heroes” panel at SDCC 2026, where head of creative Cory Barlog took the stage alongside members of the Laufey development team.
New God of War Game – What We Know
Barlog confirmed the next Kratos-led entry will release immediately after Laufey and tie directly into its events. Beyond that, details are scarce. There’s no title, no trailer, and no release date yet for the new Kratos project. Santa Monica Studio hasn’t even confirmed which mythology or setting it will explore.
Laufey, the spin-off that leads into it, now has a confirmed release date of February 16, 2027, on PlayStation 5. That’s roughly seven months out from today. Unlike every mainline entry before it, this game puts Kratos’ late wife, Faye, in the lead role instead of Kratos himself. Players follow her through Everywhen, an afterlife realm for fallen gods, as she fights to protect the future she’s planned for Atreus and Kratos.
Barlog framed Laufey as connective tissue rather than a detour. He told the SDCC crowd that the Faye game continues what came before while setting up what comes next, and that Santa Monica Studio is treating both games as a single, unified story.
Images: Santa Monica Studios
What This Means for Fans
Kratos was never actually going anywhere. Since Laufey’s original reveal at the June 2026 State of Play, fans had speculated the franchise was shifting away from its longtime protagonist for good. Santa Monica Studio has now shut that down twice: once in a June interview where Barlog said there will always be Kratos games, and again this week with an actual confirmation that a new mainline entry is in active development.
That said, don’t expect it soon. With Laufey still seven months from launch and the next Kratos game starting only after that, a realistic window points to late 2027 or 2028 at the earliest, based on Santa Monica Studio’s typical development cycle.
What’s Next for the Franchise
Expect Santa Monica Studio to stay quiet on the new project until Laufey ships and its story has had time to land with players. Historically, the studio has waited until a prior game’s narrative threads are public before revealing what comes next, so a full reveal before early 2027 seems unlikely.
FAQ
Is there a new God of War game with Kratos?
Yes. Santa Monica Studio confirmed at SDCC 2026 that a new mainline God of War game starring Kratos is in development. It has no title or release date yet, but it will release after God of War Laufey and connect directly to that game’s story.
When does God of War Laufey come out?
God of War Laufey releases February 16, 2027, on PlayStation 5. It was confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con 2026 alongside physical disc availability.
Is Kratos playable in God of War Laufey?
No. Laufey is led by Faye, Kratos’ late wife and Atreus’ mother, as she journeys through the afterlife realm Everywhen. Kratos returns as the protagonist in the next mainline entry that follows.
Is the new Kratos game the same as the God of War Trilogy Remake?
No. The new Kratos-led game, the previously announced trilogy remake, and the already-released 2D spin-off Sons of Sparta are three separate projects from Santa Monica Studio.
When will the new Kratos-led God of War game release?
No release date has been announced. Since it launches after Laufey (February 2027), a realistic window points to late 2027 or 2028 at the earliest, based on the studio’s usual development pace.