Major spoilers ahead too The God of War (2018) and God of War Ragnarok.
God of War Laufey is slated for release next year, and I couldn't be more excited. Unlike God of War Ragnarokwhich is essentially just “Chapter 2” of The God of War 2018, God of War Laufey seems to be much more distinct, with not only a new protagonist, but a whole new cast of characters and even gods from other mythologies. In addition, God of War Laufey promises to shed light on many of the shadowy secrets left in the wake of Ragnarökincluding, potentially, Atreus' true origins.
Bomb Final 2018 The God of War reveals that Kratos' son Atreus was originally supposed to be named Loki, and that his mother, who had been called Faye up until this point, was actually a Jotnar named Laufey. Anyone with a passing familiarity with Norse mythology (which is probably most people now, thanks to Marvel) knows that Loki is the Trickster god, son of Laufey and Farbauti, and sometimes adopted son of Odin. He is also often portrayed as a villain, creating uncertainty about Atreus' future virtue. But things probably won't be as simple as a predictable pivot to evil, though God of War Ragnarok is at all indicative for future contributions.
Every God confirmed to be in God of War Laufey
There are several gods expected to appear and clash with Faye in God of War Laufey, and here's everyone on the list so far.
How the Loki Twist Affects God of War
When I first played God of War RagnarokI was a little disappointed with Atreus' Loki journey. Characters like Odin and Angrboda refer to him as Loki, and there are clear parallels to Loki in Norse myth (eg shapeshifting powers), but no single, major twist related to Atreus' alter ego. But after some time Santa Monica Studio's narrative plans became more clear: the studio is building its own version of Norse mythology within The God of Warrather than adapting existing renderings or directly subverting them.
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It is useful to remember how the Loki twist develops in the first place. At the end of The God of War In 2018, after scattering Laufey's ashes in Jotunheim, Atreus and Kratos come across a mural painted by Faye and her Jotnar relatives, who have the ability to recognize themselves. The mural reveals that, among other things, Faye foresaw Kratos' arrival in the Nordic realms and the birth of Atreus. But since the Jotnar could not determine their names, they called them Farbauti and Loki respectively.
Farbauti roughly translates to “dangerous striker”, which might explain why Jotnar gave the name to Kratos – it's quite fitting. Loki's etymology is less clear, although some scholars believe that the name derives from the Germanic root luk, prefixed to words related to loops, webs, and locks.
The reveal of Loki's name comes as a shock to players, but not necessarily to Kratos and Atreus. “Loki” is just another Nordic sounding name for them, with no real meaning. This is why Atreus follows the same path as Loki i God of War Ragnarokbut with some twists.
For example, the wolf Fenrir is Loki's child in Norse myth, and while most stories present this as a literal father-son relationship, God of War Ragnarok makes it symbolic, as Fenrir is basically Atreus' “fur child”. Similarly, he is not directly adopted by Odin, but is taken under his wing, with the All-Father serving a more vaguely patriarchal role. We can think about The God of War series as an alternative interpretation of Norse lore, its creative liberties far less dramatic than they first appear. It is different, but in the same way that a theologian's wild theory can be.
God of War Laufey could continue to complicate the Loki journey
God of War Ragnarok is about breaking the shackles of fate. According to the aforementioned Jotunheim mural, Kratos was supposed to die during Ragnarök, but apparently that didn't happen – Kratos and Atreus made their own fates. But most of Jotnar's other visions actually came true. We assume their Atreus-related visions ended with Ragnarök, but it could be that Laufey has seen further into his son's future, or into alternate realities, different conclusions of past or future events.
In both cases, God of War Laufey would provide additional insight into Atreus, particularly through his mother's eyes. This is an important difference: we've seen a lot of character development for Atreus so far, but always through Kratos' filter. When Atreus loses control of his temper, it is suggested that this is a trait inherited from Kratos, for example. This is the essencece of God of War 2018, where the story hinges on the growing bond between Atreus and his father, and by extension his Greek side.
It could be that Laufey has seen further into his son's future, or into alternate realities, different conclusions of past or future events.
On the contrary God of War Laufey could provide a better look at Atreus through his mother's eyes – through his Nordic, “Loki” side. We could get more information about the name Loki itself, sure, but also additional details about Atreus' life as Loki. For example, perhaps Faye could have visions of Atreus' original fate, showing a version of the future where Kratos dies and Atreus truly becomes the adopted son of Odin. Perhaps Faye could experience the very natural fear of her son turning to the dark side, so to speak.
This is to say nothing of the loosely defined Everywhen. Laufey has already seen Kratos, which introduces the possibility of visions being manifested in this realm. So much of The God of War has revolved around fate and destiny, both of which are intimately connected to Faye, who has the power to reveal the future. As such, it would be out of place for Faye to experience any version of Loki, good or bad, in Everywhen, thereby further dissecting the character's twists of fate.
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
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Single player
