God of War: Laufey Brings Back Aerial Combat, but Are We Finally Going Sky-High?

Following the gameplay reveal for God of War: Laufey, Santa Monica Studio has shared a clearer look at how this PS5 spin-off handles combat. In comments from lead hero designer Kevin Peterson and combat design director Danny Yeh, the team confirmed that the game folds parts of the original God of War trilogy back into its modern combat foundation, most notably jumping and aerial combos. The same discussion also confirmed two new upgradeable combat companions, while Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier says the game is not “a long way off” from release, even though a PS5 launch date still has not been announced.

The encouraging part is how direct the pitch is. This is not Santa Monica tearing down the modern God of War formula and rebuilding it from scratch. Instead, the studio says it is taking the strengths of the current combat system and reintroducing more of the classic, old-school identity from the original trilogy. That means jumping is back, and so are air combos. In practical terms, combat is no longer just about grounded movement and repositioning. You can launch enemies and keep the sequence going in the air, which immediately makes the action feel more dynamic and visually forceful. The overall goal, as described by the team, is something both fresh and familiar.

More importantly, Laufey does not sound like a character who can technically jump but never really benefits from it. Peterson's core explanation is that she is built to switch seamlessly between ground and air states, with high responsiveness forming the center of the playstyle. That matters in any action game, because players will forgive difficulty much faster than they forgive a character that feels sluggish. In the demo, during Laufey's fight with Bergse, she can leap over waves of flame to avoid the mechanic. But if the player is late on an aerial dodge, the enemy can still chain into follow-up attacks. That suggests a combat system that asks for real reads and real judgment, not just flashy spectacle.

The biggest surprise, though, may be the two new companions, Lu and Frank. Lu is the guardian of the sword carried by Laufey and appears in the form of a ribbon attached to the hilt. In combat, Lu can pull enemies closer, close distance, and lash out with area attacks. Frank serves a different role: if an enemy is knocked toward him, he can launch that target into the air for a follow-up chase. Danny Yeh also confirmed that players will be able to upgrade both Lu and Frank over the course of the game, letting them better match individual combat preferences. That kind of customization could make a real difference if the combo system is as flexible as it looks.

What Santa Monica now has to prove is whether this “familiar but new” promise holds up across the full game. The good sign is scale. The studio says God of War: Laufey will feature plenty of evil gods, huge creatures, and striking set pieces beyond Laufey herself, so it does not sound like the spectacle side is being held back. The less convenient reality is that the game still has no announced PS5 release date, and the speculation around Zeus returning or Odin appearing remains just that: speculation, with no official confirmation.

For longtime God of War fans, the return of aerial combat and the emphasis on mobility already make this one worth watching closely. If you care more about story details and the complete package, it is probably smarter to wait for the next gameplay showing and a concrete release window. Either way, if Jason Schreier is right, the wait may not be very long.