When God of War: Laufey closed out PlayStation’s June 2026 State of Play showcase, many fans assumed the project was a relatively recent evolution of the franchise following the success of God of War Ragnarök.

As it turns out, Santa Monica Studio may have been planning Laufey’s story for much longer than anyone realized.

According to actress Deborah Ann Woll, who portrays Faye in the upcoming game, the project has been part of the studio’s vision for nearly ten years.

God Of War: Laufey Was Planned Long Before Its Reveal

Speaking with Comic Games Magazine, Woll reflected on finally being able to discuss the game publicly after years of secrecy.

The actress revealed that she has personally known about the project for almost a decade, describing the experience of keeping it hidden as one of the most difficult secrets of her career.

“I’ve known about this for nearly ten years.”

According to Woll, the game was formally pitched to her around 2018, the same year that God of War launched on PlayStation 4.

However, she explained that the concept already existed internally at Santa Monica Studio before that point, suggesting that Faye’s standalone adventure was always intended to become a major part of the franchise’s future.

Cory Barlog Already Had Laufey Artwork In His Office

One of the most fascinating details from Woll’s interview involves Cory Barlog, the creative force behind God of War’s Norse saga.

According to the actress, when she was first brought in to discuss God of War Ragnarök, Barlog already had concept artwork for God of War: Laufey displayed in his office.

The artwork reportedly featured both Faye and one of the game’s newest characters, Phranque, years before the title was officially announced.

That revelation suggests that Santa Monica’s long-term roadmap extended far beyond Ragnarök and that many of the narrative threads now appearing in Laufey were planned long before players ever met Faye through flashbacks and memories.

Phranque Was Always Part Of The Plan

One of the biggest talking points following the game’s reveal was Phranque, the strange sentient gelatinous cube who accompanies Faye during her journey through the Everywhen.

Many viewers initially assumed the character existed primarily as comic relief.

According to Woll, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

She explained that Phranque has been deeply connected to the project from the beginning and plays a far more important role within the game’s mythology than fans currently realize.

“Phranque is deeply a part of the lore.”

While Santa Monica has yet to reveal exactly how the character fits into the broader narrative, the comments suggest players shouldn’t underestimate the mysterious companion.

This Is Only The Beginning

Woll also spoke about what God of War: Laufey represents for the future of the franchise.

While Kratos remains one of gaming’s most iconic protagonists, Santa Monica appears eager to expand beyond his perspective and explore other corners of the universe.

According to Woll, Laufey isn’t intended to replace Kratos’ story but rather expand the scope of the franchise.

“We want this to be huge. We want you to feel like there’s such an untapped universe.”

The actress described Laufey as the beginning of a larger effort to tell new stories within the God of War universe while simultaneously deepening the mythology established during the Norse saga.

Interestingly, the game reportedly runs parallel to portions of the 2018 God of War narrative, offering players a new perspective on events that unfolded during Kratos and Atreus’ journey.

Santa Monica’s Most Ambitious Expansion Yet?

Between its decade-long development history, a new protagonist, the mysterious Everywhen realm, and the introduction of entirely new lore, God of War: Laufey is shaping up to be far more than a simple spin-off.

Everything revealed so far points toward a project that has been carefully planned for years and one that could redefine what the God of War franchise looks like moving forward.

If Deborah Ann Woll’s comments are accurate, players are only seeing the beginning of Santa Monica Studio’s next major chapter.