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God of War (franchise)

God of War is a series of action-adventure games made by Sony's Santa Monica Studio, which began on PlayStation 2 on Mar 22, 2005 with the Spartan warrior Kratos's revenge on the gods of Greek myth.[^1][^4] After the Greek games it moved to Norse myth with God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarok, the best-selling games in the series.[^15][^20] Its next game, God of War Laufey, starring Kratos's wife Faye, was delayed on Nov 4, 2026 to May 20, 2027 on PlayStation 5, and Prime Video is making a live-action series with no premiere date yet.[^27][^29]

Kratos and Atreus head north PlayStation's story trailer for God of War (2018), released in January 2018, shows Kratos and his young son Atreus on the journey through the Norse wilds that opened the series' second saga.

Overview

God of War is a series of action-adventure video games made for PlayStation consoles by Santa Monica Studio, a studio owned by Sony.[1][28] For most of its history its hero is Kratos, an ex-Spartan warrior who wars against the gods of Greek myth and who, in the later games, lives among the gods and monsters of Norse myth and teaches his son to survive there.[4][13] The first game came out on PlayStation 2 in North America on Mar 22, 2005.[1] Sony counted 21,650,595 units of the Greek-era games sold worldwide as of May 30, 2012, and has since reported more than 23 million for God of War (2018) alone and more than 15 million for God of War Ragnarok as of Nov 19, 2023.[1][15][20] As of Nov 7, 2026 the newest release is the 2D game God of War Sons of Sparta, from February 2026, and the next is God of War Laufey, due on PlayStation 5 on May 20, 2027.[21][27]

Kratos and Atreus head north PlayStation's story trailer for God of War (2018), released in January 2018, shows Kratos and his young son Atreus on the journey through the Norse wilds that opened the series' second saga.

Developer
Santa Monica Studio; Ready at Dawn (two PSP games); Mega Cat Studios (Sons of Sparta)[4][8][21]
Publisher
Sony (PlayStation)[1][13]
First game
God of War, Mar 22, 2005, PlayStation 2[1]
Latest release
God of War Sons of Sparta, Feb 12, 2026, PlayStation 5[21][22]
Next game
God of War Laufey, May 20, 2027, PlayStation 5 (delayed from Feb 16, 2027)[27]
Best-selling game
God of War (2018), over 23 million units (Sony, November 2022)[15]
Highest Metascore
94: God of War (2005), God of War (2018), God of War Ragnarok (as of Nov 7, 2026)[4][12][16]
Television
Prime Video live-action series, two seasons ordered, no premiere date as of Nov 7, 2026[29]

Origins and the first game

The series began in 2002 as a project called Dark Odyssey, which Sony's Santa Monica studio let David Jaffe direct as a return for his help on another of its games.[2] Jaffe has said his starting point was a game like Onimusha with Greek mythology in place of Japanese.[2] The studio had been founded in 1999 by Allan Becker, a Sony veteran, and Shannon Studstill, later its senior director of product development, recalled a money crunch to finish the first game during which she was threatened with losing her job.[28] In God of War, released on Mar 22, 2005, Kratos sets out to destroy Ares, the god of war, armed with two blades on chains.[1][4] The later prequel Ascension explains why: Ares had tricked him into killing his own wife and child.[10] The first game holds a Metascore of 94 from 75 critics, and at the D.I.C.E. awards in 2006 it won overall Game of the Year and Console Game of the Year among other prizes.[4][3] Studstill later said it became something of a hardware seller for the PlayStation 2.[28]

How Ares tricked Kratos In GameSpot's timeline of the whole series, the narrator sets out the first game's backstory: the pact that bound Kratos to Ares, and how the god tricked him into killing his wife and daughter.

The Greek saga

God of War II followed on PlayStation 2 on Mar 13, 2007, with Kratos now seated on Olympus as the new god of war, and it scores 93 on Metacritic.[5] God of War III, on PlayStation 3 from Mar 16, 2010, sends him from the depths of Hades to the heights of Mount Olympus for revenge on the gods who betrayed him; it scores 92 from 101 critics.[6][7] Ready at Dawn made two games for the handheld PSP, Chains of Olympus on Mar 4, 2008 and Ghost of Sparta on Nov 2, 2010, which score 91 and 86.[8][9] The prequel God of War: Ascension closed the Greek era on PlayStation 3 on Mar 12, 2013, with a Metascore of 80.[10] IGN's review called it the weakest game in the series, while praising its new online multiplayer, in which players pledge themselves to one of four gods.[11] In Sony's 2012 count, God of War III was the best seller of the Greek games, with 5,197,632 units.[1]

Up the side of Olympus GameSpot's timeline reaches God of War III, which opens with Kratos riding the Titan Gaia up the side of Mount Olympus and fighting Poseidon on the way.

The Norse saga

After Ascension the studio moved the series to Norse myth. God of War, released on PlayStation 4 on Apr 20, 2018 and usually called God of War (2018), finds Kratos years after his war on Olympus, living in the realm of the Norse gods and teaching his son Atreus to survive.[12][13] Cory Barlog, who had directed God of War II, directed it.[2] It scores 94 on Metacritic and won Game of the Year at The Game Awards 2018, along with Best Game Direction and Best Action/Adventure Game.[12][14] Its sequel, God of War Ragnarok, came to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on Nov 9, 2022 and also scores 94.[16][20] It won six awards at The Game Awards 2022, among them Best Narrative and Best Performance for Christopher Judge as Kratos, though Elden Ring took Game of the Year.[18] A free epilogue, Valhalla, added roguelite combat on Dec 12, 2023.[20] Both Norse games reached Windows through Steam, God of War on Jan 14, 2022 and Ragnarok on Sep 19, 2024, with Jetpack Interactive sharing the work on the ports.[13][17]

Sons of Sparta and the trilogy remake

On Feb 12, 2026, Santa Monica Studio announced that God of War Sons of Sparta was out that day on PlayStation 5: a 2D action platformer made with its partners at Mega Cat Studios, with writing by the Santa Monica team.[21] It is set during Kratos's training at the Agoge with his brother Deimos, and TC Carson narrates as the adult Kratos, his first time in the role in over a decade; the Standard Edition costs $29.99.[21] Its Metascore is 64 from 82 critic reviews, rated mixed or average, as of Nov 7, 2026.[22] The same announcement said the original trilogy is being remade, a project the studio called still very early in development, without naming a developer, platforms or a date.[21]

Young Kratos and Deimos PlayStation's reveal trailer for God of War Sons of Sparta shows the 2D game's young Kratos and his brother Deimos in Spartan training, with the adult Kratos narrating.

God of War Laufey

The next game, God of War Laufey, was revealed on Jun 2, 2026.[23] Its hero is Faye, also called Laufey, Kratos's wife and the former owner of his Leviathan Axe, who wakes after her funeral in the Everywhen, the afterlife of the gods, a realm shared by gods and creatures from many mythologies.[23] Deborah Ann Woll plays Faye, reprising her role from Ragnarok, while Jack Quaid voices Phranque, a cosmic cube, and Perlina Lau voices Rue, an enchanted ribbon that guards a powerful sword.[23] Game director Ariel Lawrence described the Everywhen as less a paradise than a prison, a place where magic no longer flows as it should.[24] The studio says Laufey was built from the start to hold all the core elements of a God of War game, joining the fluid movement of the Greek era to the world-building of the Norse one.[23]

Faye wakes in the Everywhen IGN's upload of the Jun 2, 2026 gameplay reveal opens on Faye's body burning on her funeral pyre, the first scene of God of War (2018), and follows her as she wakes in the afterlife of the gods.

Faye moves between ground and air in a fight, and can strike a foe's soul out of its body and then attack the soul directly.[23] A second weapon, the Serpent Bow, was shown when pre-orders were detailed in September 2026, along with a Collector Box sold only by PlayStation Direct for $149.99.[26] A release date of Feb 16, 2027 was confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2026.[25] On Nov 4, 2026 the studio moved the game to May 20, 2027, saying it wanted more time to push it to its fullest potential; it remains a PlayStation 5 exclusive.[27]

Striking the soul In the official combat first look, uploaded by IGN, Santa Monica Studio's designers explain how Faye knocks a soul out of an enemy's body and how her two companions fight beside her.

Reception and sales

Three games share the series' highest Metascore, 94: God of War (2005), God of War (2018) on PlayStation 4 and Ragnarok on PlayStation 5, as read on Nov 7, 2026.[4][12][16] Players on Steam rate the Norse games highly too: as of Nov 7, 2026, 96% of 61,268 English user reviews of God of War (2018) were positive, and 89% of 16,555 for Ragnarok.[13][17] God of War (2018) passed 23 million units on PlayStation 4 and PC by Sony's fiscal report of November 2022.[15] Ragnarok sold 5.1 million copies in its first week, more than any other first-party PlayStation game in its debut week, and more than 15 million across PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 by Nov 19, 2023.[19][20] Sony has published no total for the whole series since its 2012 figure of 21,650,595; adding its latest figures for each era gives at least 59.6 million, a sum that leaves out Ascension, Sons of Sparta and every sale after those dates.[1][15][20]

Called a masterpiece In IGN's April 2018 review of God of War, the reviewer calls the game a masterpiece and by far the most stirring and memorable in the series.

The studio and what follows Laufey

Santa Monica Studio developed the main console games from the 2005 original through Ragnarok.[4][5][7][10][12][16] Its crew on the first game included Stig Asmussen, who went on to direct God of War III, and Cory Barlog, who directed God of War II and God of War (2018).[2] Barlog is now the studio's creative head.[24] At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2026 he let slip that a new game led by Kratos is coming and that it will directly follow the events of Laufey.[25] As of the delay announcement on Nov 4, 2026, Laufey was the only game in the series with a release date.[27]

A Kratos game after Laufey In IGN's recap of Comic-Con 2026, the hosts describe how Cory Barlog brought up the Kratos-led game that will follow Laufey.

Television series

Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television are making a live-action God of War series for Prime Video, with PlayStation Productions and Tall Ship Productions, under a two-season order.[29] Ronald D. Moore is its showrunner, and Amazon says it will closely follow the story of the last two games, the journey of a father and his son.[29] Ryan Hurst, cast as Kratos in January 2026, tore a bicep on set, and on Aug 20, 2026 Variety reported that Dave Bautista had been officially set in the role and that every scene with Hurst would be reshot.[30] Callum Vinson plays Atreus and Mandy Patinkin plays Odin.[29] Amazon had announced no premiere date as of Nov 7, 2026.[29]

Timeline

  1. God of War comes out on PlayStation 2.[1]
  2. God of War II.[5]
  3. Chains of Olympus on PSP, by Ready at Dawn.[8]
  4. God of War III on PlayStation 3.[7]
  5. Ghost of Sparta on PSP.[9]
  6. God of War: Ascension, the last Greek-era game.[10]
  7. God of War (2018) moves the series to Norse myth.[12]
  8. God of War (2018) comes to PC.[13]
  9. God of War Ragnarok on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.[16]
  10. Valhalla, Ragnarok's free epilogue.[20]
  11. Ragnarok comes to PC.[17]
  12. Sons of Sparta released; the Greek trilogy remake announced.[21]
  13. God of War Laufey revealed.[23]
  14. Dave Bautista set as Kratos in the Prime Video series.[30]
  15. Laufey delayed from Feb 16 to May 20, 2027.[27]
  16. God of War Laufey due on PlayStation 5.[27]

What we think

This section is Heartipedia’s own opinion, not sourced fact. Each view is reasoned from the facts cited above and from trends we see; it may turn out wrong. A prediction’s words are never changed once made: when the facts are known we add the result under it, right or wrong. Every prediction we have made.

The Prime Video series waits for 2028

We expect Prime Video's God of War series not to premiere before January 2028. We think Amazon will hold its first season until it can promise the second soon after.

Why: Filming began in Vancouver in February 2026, Ryan Hurst's injury stopped it, and Variety reported on Aug 20, 2026 that every scene with Hurst must be reshot with Dave Bautista. Two seasons are being shot back to back, and Amazon had given no premiere date by November 2026, so a reshoot plus a full second season leaves little room for a 2027 debut.

Prediction Confidence: Likely Check by: Jan 2028 Made

The trilogy remake comes from a partner studio, on PS5 and PC at once

We think the remake of the Greek trilogy is being built mainly by a studio other than Santa Monica, with Santa Monica guiding it, and we expect it to launch on PlayStation 5 and PC on the same day.

Why: Santa Monica Studio is finishing Laufey for May 2027 and has a Kratos game that follows it, so its own team is spoken for. It already made Sons of Sparta with Mega Cat Studios and the PC versions of both Norse games with Jetpack Interactive, and the wait for PC shrank from almost four years for God of War (2018) to under two for Ragnarok. A remake of games from 2005 to 2010 has no PlayStation 5 exclusive feature to protect.

Prediction Confidence: Possible Check by: Dec 2028 Made

Two heroes in the next Kratos game

We expect the Kratos-led game that follows Laufey to make Faye playable for part of it, alongside Kratos, the first main God of War game with two playable leads. We think Atreus appears in it but is not playable.

Why: Cory Barlog said at Comic-Con in July 2026 that the next Kratos game will directly follow the events of Laufey, and Laufey gives Faye a full move set of her own: a sword, soul strikes and the Serpent Bow. A studio that builds a whole combat system for a new hero, then picks up the story where she leaves it, has every reason to keep her in the player's hands.

Prediction Confidence: Possible Check by: Dec 2029 Made

God of War (2018) past 30 million

We expect Sony or Santa Monica Studio to say that God of War (2018) has sold more than 30 million units by the end of 2027.

Why: It had passed 23 million on PlayStation 4 and PC by November 2022, and Laufey's story runs from the 2018 game's opening scene, which we think will send new players back to it through 2027. We think Sony will want a round, record number to put beside Laufey's launch.

Prediction Confidence: Long shot Check by: Dec 2027 Made

The reboot saved the series

We think the 2018 reboot was not a risk but a rescue: in our view the Greek formula had run out by Ascension, and changing the setting, the story and Kratos himself is why God of War is still a flagship today.

Why: The three numbered Greek games scored 94, 93 and 92 on Metacritic, then Ascension fell to 80 in 2013, and IGN called it the weakest in the series. Five years later God of War (2018) returned to 94, won Game of the Year at The Game Awards, and sold more on its own than the 21.65 million Sony had counted for all the Greek games by 2012.

Opinion Made

What others predict

Predictions made on video by creators, experts or the subject of this page, in their words, each linked at the second it is said. The one line after each is our view. When the facts are known we add the result, right or wrong.

FatBrett: Kratos matters in Laufey

FatBrett , at 10:51 Check by: Jun 2027

"I suspect he is going to be a significant part of the story." (YouTube's automatic captions)

Our view: We think he is right that Kratos matters to Laufey's plot, but we expect him in a few short scenes, since the studio sells it as Faye's game.

Moments

  1. Kratos and Atreus head north PlayStation's story trailer for God of War (2018), released in January 2018, shows Kratos and his young son Atreus on the journey through the Norse wilds that opened the series' second saga.
  2. How Ares tricked Kratos In GameSpot's timeline of the whole series, the narrator sets out the first game's backstory: the pact that bound Kratos to Ares, and how the god tricked him into killing his wife and daughter.
  3. Up the side of Olympus GameSpot's timeline reaches God of War III, which opens with Kratos riding the Titan Gaia up the side of Mount Olympus and fighting Poseidon on the way.
  4. Young Kratos and Deimos PlayStation's reveal trailer for God of War Sons of Sparta shows the 2D game's young Kratos and his brother Deimos in Spartan training, with the adult Kratos narrating.
  5. Faye wakes in the Everywhen IGN's upload of the Jun 2, 2026 gameplay reveal opens on Faye's body burning on her funeral pyre, the first scene of God of War (2018), and follows her as she wakes in the afterlife of the gods.
  6. Striking the soul In the official combat first look, uploaded by IGN, Santa Monica Studio's designers explain how Faye knocks a soul out of an enemy's body and how her two companions fight beside her.
  7. Called a masterpiece In IGN's April 2018 review of God of War, the reviewer calls the game a masterpiece and by far the most stirring and memorable in the series.
  8. A Kratos game after Laufey In IGN's recap of Comic-Con 2026, the hosts describe how Cory Barlog brought up the Kratos-led game that will follow Laufey.

References

  1. Award-Winning God of War Franchise Sales Exceed 21 Million Units Worldwide, Sony Computer Entertainment, 2012-06-05primary
  2. The making of the original God of War, GamesRadar+, 2018-11-12press
  3. God of War rolls D.I.C.E., GameSpot, 2006-02-10press
  4. God of War (2005), Metacriticpress
  5. God of War II, Metacriticpress
  6. It's Official, God of War III Will Be Attacking Stores on March 16th!, PlayStation Blog, 2010-01-28primary
  7. God of War III, Metacriticpress
  8. God of War: Chains of Olympus, Metacriticpress
  9. God of War: Ghost of Sparta, Metacriticpress
  10. God of War: Ascension, Metacriticpress
  11. God of War: Ascension Review, IGN, 2013-03-14press
  12. God of War, Metacriticpress
  13. God of War, Steamprimary
  14. The Game Awards 2018 winners, The Game Awardsprimary
  15. God of War (2018) Has Sold Over 23 Million Units, GamingBolt, 2022-11-01press
  16. God of War: Ragnarok, Metacriticpress
  17. God of War Ragnarok, Steamprimary
  18. The Game Awards 2022 winners, The Game Awardsprimary
  19. God of War: Ragnarok is Sony's fastest-selling first-party title, Engadget, 2022-11-23press
  20. God of War Ragnarok: Valhalla DLC revealed, coming December 12, PlayStation Blog, 2023-12-07primary
  21. God of War Greek trilogy remake in development & God of War Sons of Sparta out now, PlayStation Blog, 2026-02-12primary
  22. God of War Sons of Sparta, Metacriticpress
  23. First look at God of War Laufey, PlayStation Blog, 2026-06-02primary
  24. God Of War Laufey Stars Kratos' Wife Fighting Through The Afterlife Of The Gods, Game Informer, 2026-06-02press
  25. God Of War Laufey Actor Says The Love Between Kratos And Fey Is Like 'A Soul Finding Its Own Reflection In Another', Kotaku, 2026-07-28press
  26. God of War Laufey pre-orders available starting September 29, editions detailed, PlayStation Blog, 2026-09-28primary
  27. God Of War Laufey Delayed To May, Game Informer, 2026-11-04press
  28. The House That God of War Built: Sony Santa Monica, IGN, 2012-03-21press
  29. God of War Prime Video series: Cast, plot, release date, and more, Amazon, 2026-02-16primary
  30. Dave Bautista Officially Set as Kratos in 'God of War' TV Series, Variety, 2026-08-20press

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Status
Published and revised continuously; this version is the one described here.
Published
7 November 2026
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7 November 2026, see what changed
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