Santa Monica Studio has confirmed that the next Kratos-led God of War will arrive after the upcoming Laufey-centric title, currently targeting early 2027, and that the two games' narratives are "intrinsically tied" — effectively positioning Laufey's story as a direct prologue to whatever comes next for the Ghost of Sparta.
The Announcement
The revelation came during a San Diego Comic-Con 2026 panel headlined by creative director Cory Barlog. While the studio had previously teased a Laufey-focused game — which showed a Kratos cameo during a recent State of Play — this marks the first explicit confirmation that a full Kratos sequel is in active development and that its story will pick up directly from Laufey's. No release window for the Kratos game was given, but the sequencing is now clear: Laufey first, then Kratos.
Why This Now
The timing reflects a franchise at a crossroads. The Norse saga concluded with Ragnarök in 2022, and Santa Monica has spent the intervening years building out a multi-pronged expansion: a live-action series at Amazon Prime Video, a spinoff centered on Kratos's late wife, and now a direct narrative bridge between them. Announcing the roadmap at Comic-Con — rather than a PlayStation showcase — signals an intent to court a broader, transmedia audience while reassuring core players that Kratos isn't being sidelined.
Deconstruct the Impact
For players, the implication is structural: Laufey's game isn't a side story. It's Chapter One of a two-part arc. That raises the stakes for a character who, until now, has existed largely in flashback and lore. If her game releases in early 2027 as planned, the Kratos sequel likely won't arrive before 2028 or later — a gap comparable to the five-year wait between God of War (2018) and Ragnarök (2022).
The TV series adds another variable. Amazon's adaptation, which follows the 2018 game's plot, recently recast Kratos after Ryan Hurst suffered a torn bicep that would have delayed his return to early 2027 — coincidentally aligning with Laufey's launch window. The new actor hasn't been announced. This means the show, Laufey's game, and the next Kratos game could all be in the cultural conversation simultaneously, each informing the others.
The Broader Trend
Sony's first-party strategy has increasingly favored interconnected universes over standalone sequels. Horizon expanded into a multiplayer project and a mobile game; The Last of Us spawned an HBO series that fed back into Part I's remake sales. God of War is now following that model: a mainline sequel, a narrative prequel, and a TV adaptation all in motion at once. The difference is pacing — Santa Monica isn't farming this out to support studios. Barlog's team is overseeing the throughline directly.
Counterpoint
The risk is narrative fatigue. Laufey's story works as a mystery precisely because it's been told in fragments. A full game centered on her — followed by a Kratos game that requires you to have played it — could alienate players who just want to hit things with an axe. There's also the question of mechanical identity: if Laufey's game plays differently (magic-focused, perhaps), does it teach habits the Kratos sequel then has to unteach? Santa Monica has earned trust, but trust isn't infinite.
What Comes Next
Watch for a proper reveal of Laufey's game — likely a dedicated State of Play before year's end — and any casting news on the Amazon series. The Kratos sequel will stay dark for a while; Barlog's panel was the roadmap, not the trailer. But the architecture is now visible: one story, two protagonists, three media. Whether that's ambition or overreach won't be clear until Laufey's game ships in early 2027.
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