For nearly two decades, the God of War series has been defined by one character: Kratos.
Whether battling the gods of Olympus or navigating the realms of Norse mythology, the Ghost of Sparta has always been at the heart of the franchise. That's why Sony's reveal of God of War: Laufey came as such a surprise.
The next major entry in the series will place Kratos' wife, Faye, in the lead role, offering players a chance to explore a character who has largely existed in the background of the recent games despite her enormous influence on the story.
For longtime fans, it represents one of the biggest shifts in the franchise's history.
Players first learned about Faye - whose full name is Laufey the Just - through God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarök.
Although she never appeared as a playable character, her actions shaped almost everything that happened throughout the Norse saga. Her final wishes set Kratos and Atreus on their journey, while her knowledge of prophecy and the realms played a key role in the events that followed.
Now, players will finally get to experience that story from her perspective.
Based on the reveal trailer and early information released by PlayStation, God of War: Laufey appears to explore events that take place before the adventures of Kratos and Atreus, allowing fans to learn more about one of the most mysterious figures in the series.
Perhaps the most interesting question surrounding the game is how differently it might play.
Kratos has always been defined by raw power. Whether wielding the Blades of Chaos or the Leviathan Axe, combat in God of War often revolves around brute force, aggression, and overwhelming strength.
Faye appears to offer a very different style.
The footage shown so far suggests a more agile and fluid approach to combat. Her fighting style appears faster and more precise, relying on movement, timing, and technique rather than pure power.
This could create a very different feel while still retaining the action-heavy combat the series is known for.
In many ways, it echoes the reaction fans had when Atreus became playable during sections of Ragnarök. While some players initially questioned the change, many came away appreciating the fresh perspective and gameplay variety it introduced.
God of War: Laufey looks set to take that idea much further.
One of the biggest advantages of focusing on Faye is the amount of unexplored history available to Santa Monica Studio.
While Kratos' story has been extensively told across multiple games, large parts of Faye's life remain unknown.
Fans know she was a powerful warrior, deeply connected to the Giants, respected throughout the realms, and instrumental in shaping the future that unfolded during Ragnarök.
What they don't know is exactly how she became that person.
The new game presents an opportunity to answer many of those questions while expanding the lore of the Norse world beyond what was shown in previous titles.
While Sony has confirmed that Faye is the protagonist of God of War: Laufey, many questions remain unanswered.
Will Kratos appear? Almost certainly.
Will Atreus feature in some form? Quite possibly.
Will this remain a standalone story, or mark the beginning of a new direction for the franchise?
That's less clear.
What is clear is that Sony and Santa Monica Studio appear confident enough in the God of War universe to move beyond Kratos as the sole focus of every adventure.
For some fans, that may feel like a risk. For others, it's an exciting opportunity to explore a character who has fascinated players ever since she was first mentioned in 2018.
Either way, God of War: Laufey represents something the franchise hasn't attempted before: a mainline God of War game led by someone other than Kratos.
And after seeing what Santa Monica Studio achieved with the Norse saga, many fans will be eager to see where that journey leads next.
Keep Calm and waka waka...
