Santa Monica Studio has officially confirmed the return of Kratos in a new mainline God of War game which is currently in development. Fans received this exciting update during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) 2026. Furthermore, this upcoming title will directly follow the events of God of War Laufey.
An Accidental SDCC Announcement Mentioning Kratos
Head of Creative Cory Barlog accidentally dropped the news during the convention. While speaking at the God of War Laufey panel, Barlog let the secret slip. He mentioned speaking to the director of the new God of War game earlier in the week. He said:
I was actually talking to the director of the next Kratos game earlier this week about all the different things that are going… oh ****, did I just announce the next Kratos game?
Immediately after realizing his mistake, he jokingly asked the crowd for a “code of silence”. He continued:
I need everybody to just forget that you heard that, Kratos is in another game immediately after this, it directly connects to the events of Laufey.
However, the secret is now out. Barlog clarified that Kratos will lead this next God of War game immediately after the events of Laufey. Therefore, the current spin-off will serve as an essential narrative bridge. Right now, the studio has not announced a specific release window for Kratos’s return.
God of War Laufey Secures a Release Date
Meanwhile, players finally have a definitive launch date for God of War Laufey. Santa Monica Studio confirmed the game will release on February 16, 2027.
Notably, this title marks a major shift for the franchise. It serves as the first mainline entry where Kratos is not the main character. Instead, players will take control of his wife, Faye. Actress Deborah Ann Woll provides the voice and performance for the protagonist.
Recently, Kratos’s absence sparked backlash from certain corners of the gaming community. Consequently, Woll stated she is simply staying offline and ignoring the negativity. Thankfully, fans of the classic protagonist now know that Laufey directly sets up his next major adventure.
Major Setback for the Live-Action TV Series
Beyond the video games, the franchise is expanding to television. Sony Pictures and Amazon MGM Studios are actively producing a live-action adaptation. Unfortunately, the production just hit a massive roadblock.
Lead actor Ryan Hurst suffered a serious injury during filming. As a result, the studios are forced to recast Kratos. Currently, Amazon has not announced Hurst’s replacement. Moreover, it remains unclear exactly how this sudden casting change will impact the show’s final release schedule.
