Santa Monica Studio has pushed God of War Laufey back by three months. The next chapter in the Norse-era saga, originally due on February 16, 2027, will now launch on May 20, 2027. The studio says the extra time is needed to deliver a game that meets fan expectations and has promised more details soon.
On its own, a three-month slip for a major first-party PlayStation release isn’t unusual. The context makes it more significant. Early 2027 has turned into one of the most crowded stretches on the release calendar, partly because other publishers have moved their games out of fall 2026 to avoid launching close to GTA 6. Fable is one of them, now slotted into early next year. Moving to May gives Laufey more room, and gives smaller February releases a better chance of being noticed without a new God of War dominating attention.
The timing suggests the decision was made recently. Sony had only just revealed a collector’s box designed around the February launch, a merchandise-only package that doesn’t include the game. It’s not yet clear whether that box will ship on its original schedule or move with the game.
The delay also comes as the project faces an unusual amount of skepticism. Laufey moves Kratos out of the lead role and puts the spotlight on Laufey, the giant whose death and cremation set Kratos and Atreus on their journey in the 2018 reboot. Some players have reacted badly to the change, and the online criticism has become loud enough that star Deborah Ann Woll has been asked about it publicly. In that environment, a rough launch would invite exactly the reaction the studio is trying to avoid, so taking extra time looks less like a warning sign and more like a sensible bet.
Kratos isn’t gone entirely. He is confirmed to appear, and earlier material has shown him in an ancient Greek setting, which has led to speculation about how the timeline fits together and how this story connects to the 2018 game and Ragnarök. Santa Monica has also confirmed that a new Kratos-led God of War is in development and will follow directly from Laufey’s story, positioning this game as a bridge rather than a replacement.
What remains unclear is why Laufey’s story has to be told now, and whether the studio can convince doubtful fans before May. A gameplay showing would help more than any statement. With the holiday showcase season approaching, Sony has a few chances to make that case.