Will the new *God of War* make Faye the protagonist? It’s a huge risk.

This rumor is a big one. It’s not Kratos stepping aside, but God of War changing its edge.

According to a roundup by the foreign outlet everyeye.it, the new God of War could appear as early as an unannounced State of Play in April. The most eye-catching detail is that the protagonist may be Faye—Kratos’ second wife and Atreus’ mother. Sony has not confirmed anything yet, so for now, this should be treated as a leak.

This is not the first time similar news has surfaced. As early as 2023, there were rumors that God of War would get a spin-off featuring two playable characters. At the time, the claim was that Kratos would no longer be the central protagonist, though he would still appear in some form. Now the direction of the leak has changed, suggesting the project may have gone through adjustments.

Faye as the protagonist is not surprising. The Norse saga of God of War has always built its story around the gaps she left behind. Her death set Kratos and Atreus on their journey, yet she herself has remained like a missing file in the narrative. Filling in her story makes sense from a storytelling perspective.

The real risk lies in the gameplay. The leak says the new game’s combat will be closer to Devil May Cry, emphasizing fast pacing and flashy combo expression. That differs from the recent God of War direction, which has leaned more toward narrative, oppressive camera work, and slower, more deliberate offense-and-defense. If it works, it will feel like the series has been unshackled. If it fails, it will come off as an identity crisis.

The dual-protagonist setup is also interesting. Reportedly, Tyr will be playable alongside Faye, and Norse characters such as Freya will also appear. Tyr is a fitting choice for expanding the mythological map, since he already has close ties to myths from multiple civilizations. That setup feels more reasonable than forcing Kratos to keep fighting.

The leak also mentions that elements from Chinese, Maya, and Japanese mythology will be added. This is where I’m actually more cautious. Mythology is not just a cosmetic skin; it’s easy to bring in, but hard to write well. If God of War introduces East Asian mythology for the first time, it has to handle the scale and context carefully, otherwise it will only seem overly ambitious.

Players are also said to have a unique companion, along with a talking sword. That sounds very much like an attempt to strengthen the sense of adventure companionship. The issue is that God of War already has a highly present character like Mimir; adding another very talkative weapon means the writing will have to be restrained.

My take is simple. If this really is a spin-off, then it should make bold changes. Let the main series keep Kratos and Atreus steady, while the side title experiments with new storytelling and new combat—that is the safest division of labor.

But don’t get too excited just yet. Everything so far is still based on leaks, and it’s not even certain whether it will continue using the God of War brand. Until Sony officially says something, this can only be considered a rumor pointing in a very aggressive direction.