- Primary Subject: God of War: Laufey
- Key Update: Santa Monica Studio named the game after Laufey (Faye) because the story focuses on her journey and finally explores the character who shaped the entire Norse saga from behind the scenes.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: June 2, 2026
- Quick Answer: God of War: Laufey is named after Faye's true Giant name, Laufey the Just, because she is the game's protagonist. Rather than focusing on Kratos, the story explores Faye's own journey after her death, highlighting her role as a legendary Giant warrior and one of the most important figures in the God of War universe.
The reveal of God of War: Laufey at PlayStation's June 2026 State of Play left many fans asking why Santa Monica Studio chose Laufey as the title character instead of Kratos.
The answer lies in both the character's importance to the series and the story the studio wants to tell next.
For years, Faye has been one of the most influential characters in the God of War universe despite barely appearing on screen.
Known to most players simply as Faye, her true name is Laufey the Just, a Giant warrior from Jötunheim, the wife of Kratos, and the mother of Atreus.
Although she passed away before the events of God of War (2018), her actions shaped nearly everything that followed.
The journey to spread her ashes set Kratos and Atreus on their path, while her prophecies and knowledge of the future quietly guided many of the major events throughout the Norse saga.
Santa Monica Studio's decision to name the game after Laufey brings long-overdue attention to one of the story's most important figures.
Why Did Santa Monica Studio Choose Faye as the Protagonist?
The title also reflects the fact that this is not simply another adventure starring Kratos.
According to the developers, the game was created as an opportunity to explore someone who played a crucial role in the series but whose story has largely remained a mystery.
The studio does not see the project as a break from God of War's narrative but as a continuation of it.
Kratos remains central to the franchise, but Laufey allows players to experience familiar events from an entirely different perspective.
The title feels especially fitting because the story picks up directly after Faye's funeral at the start of God of War (2018) instead of serving as a standard prequel.
Following her death, she awakens in a mysterious realm known as the Everywhen, described as an afterlife where gods from multiple mythologies converge.
This allows the game to move beyond the Norse world and introduce figures from entirely different cultures.
The reveal trailer showcased characters such as Sekhmet from Egyptian mythology and Begtse, a Mongolian god of war, suggesting that the franchise is beginning to connect multiple pantheons in ways previous entries never could.
Why Use the Name Laufey Instead of Faye?
Her identity as Laufey is also closely connected to the themes of the story.
Throughout the Norse saga, most characters referred to her as Faye, the woman who built a family with Kratos and raised Atreus.
Using her true Giant name instead highlights her legendary status and her place within the larger mythology of the world.
It transforms her from a figure remembered through others into a protagonist whose own journey takes center stage.
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