God of War’s Next Hero Is Faye: Five Years in the Making, Sony Goes All-In
She was just a voice in Kratos’ memories, a ghost whose ashes shaped an entire saga. But Faye might finally step out of the shadows—and not in the kind of game you’re expecting.
In God of War (2018), Faye was already gone. In God of War Ragnarok, she appeared only in fleeting flashbacks. Now, according to several insiders reacting to a revealing LinkedIn profile, she could become the star of Santa Monica Studio’s next game. This project, in the works for at least five years, fits right into Sony’s expanding universe strategy, already kicked off with last month’s shadowdrop of Sons of Sparta.
Image credit: Santa Monica Studio
Faye, from ghost to heroine: Sony’s bold move
Laulaufey, better known as Faye, is a true anomaly in gaming history. Few characters are so central to a saga while being almost entirely absent on screen. In God of War (2018), she drives the whole plot—her death, her ashes, her secrets—without ever saying a word. In God of War Ragnarok, she’s just a glimpse in a flashback, barely enough to hint at the warrior she was. That’s exactly what makes Sony’s choice so intriguing: Faye’s narrative potential is practically untouched.
The LinkedIn profile of Lauren Signorino, former Senior Writer at Santa Monica Studio, set the rumor mill ablaze. Before it vanished, it mentioned she had “helped shape the narrative vision and creative direction of a new franchise within the God of War universe, developing original characters, storylines, and lore.” Five years of work on this project puts its start around 2021, right in the middle of God of War Ragnarok’s production. Clearly, Santa Monica Studio has been planning this transition for a long time.
A God of War with Devil May Cry DNA? Insiders confirm the action shift
Faye as the lead is already a shocker, but it’s the gameplay direction that’s really turning heads. According to insider Shpeshal Nick, the game will ditch the slow-burn, semi-open world of the Norse entries for a punchier, combo-heavy style. “I haven’t heard anything about the mythology involved. Just that it’s Faye and it’s more action-focused. Probably closer in spirit to Devil May Cry than the recent God of War games,” he shared on social media.
Shpeshal Nick
— (@shpeshal_nick) date
Insider Nate the Hate backed this up, adding that “the gameplay should differ from the Norse God of War games, with a much stronger focus on action.” Picture more aerial combat, flashier combos, and a generally more frenetic pace. It’s a throwback to the wild action of the original PS2 God of War—but with a modern twist inspired by the best character action games out there.
Sony’s MCU strategy: God of War goes full expanded universe
This Faye-centric spin-off isn’t coming out of nowhere. It’s part of a much bigger vision, as revealed by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier. He describes Sony’s strategy as aiming for “multiple sequels and spinoffs, like its own mini Marvel Cinematic Universe.” Schreier also noted that Santa Monica Studio’s next project “isn’t a new IP, but might feel like one”—a perfect fit for a God of War game you can play without knowing the main saga.
The puzzle pieces fall into place with recent announcements. God of War: Sons of Sparta dropped out of nowhere last month, the original God of War trilogy remake is in the works, and a live-action adaptation is coming to Prime Video. Bluepoint Games was also working on a God of War live-service title before the studio shut down. It’s a move straight out of Remedy Entertainment’s playbook with Alan Wake and Control: radically different games sharing the same universe.
The current God of War project lineup is dizzying:
- The Faye spin-off (in development at Santa Monica Studio)
- The original trilogy remake (Greek mythology)
- God of War: Sons of Sparta (released February 2026)
- The live-action adaptation for Prime Video
But there’s a catch: oversaturation. Flooding the market with too many projects from the same franchise is a surefire way to burn out fans, especially if quality slips. Too much God of War could kill God of War.
Reveal in 2026, launch in 2027? What we know about the timeline
According to Nate the Hate, the current plan is to reveal the game this year, with a release aimed for the first half of 2027—“unless it slips,” he cautions. It’s ambitious, but not impossible, given the five years of development already behind it. The timing is right for Sony: the company has recently shown it’s ready to go big at State of Play, and the God of War franchise has serious momentum after February’s announcements.
Still, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. None of this has been officially confirmed by Santa Monica Studio or Sony Interactive Entertainment. The LinkedIn profile that started the leak seems to have been deleted, and as consistent as the insiders’ reports are, they’re still rumors. Announced release windows have a nasty habit of slipping, as the industry loves to remind us.
If Sony can turn God of War into an expanded universe without losing what makes each project unique, this gamble could pay off. But between fans hyped to wield Faye’s powers and skeptics worried about the saga getting watered down, Santa Monica Studio’s next official announcement will be watched like a hawk.
