Can an Action Franchise Survive Without Its Most Famous Character in the Lead?

Game: God of War Laufey  |  Developer: Santa Monica Studio  |  Protagonist: Faye (Laufey), played by Deborah Ann Woll  |  Series First: First mainline entry without Kratos as the playable lead

David Jaffe, creator of the original 2005 God of War, says Laufey “is not God of War.” He livestreamed his reaction to the game’s State of Play reveal, and his criticism went well beyond a passing comment. Part of the wider fanbase has echoed similar frustration, though not always for the same reasons Jaffe gives.

What Jaffe Actually Said

Jaffe didn’t hold back during his live reaction. TheGamer’s coverage quotes him calling the reveal “uninspired” and “dull,” adding that the game “looks like sh*t” in his live commentary.

His complaint centers on tone rather than simple loyalty to Kratos. Jaffe argued the reveal lost the franchise’s gore and violence, calling the result something closer to “a fantasy story” than a God of War game.

This Isn’t a New Pattern for Jaffe

Jaffe has criticized the franchise’s direction consistently since leaving Sony, going back to 2018’s soft reboot. OpenCritic notes his recurring complaints include Kratos becoming too soft and Atreus reading as a weak character.

Seen against that history, his reaction to Laufey fits an established pattern rather than a one-off objection. Even so, the specific complaint, that the reveal doesn’t feel identifiably God of War without stripping the title away, is a sharper claim than his usual criticism.

The Broader Fan Backlash Isn’t Identical to Jaffe’s

Fan reaction has split along a different line entirely. Cosmic Book News reported that a portion of the backlash specifically targets the decision to move away from Kratos as the lead, rather than Jaffe’s tone-focused complaints.

• Casting reaction: Some fans compared Faye’s in-game design unfavorably to actress Deborah Ann Woll, who plays her
• The Kratos-first argument: A vocal segment of fans want a franchise built around Kratos specifically, not just the God of War name
• The counter-reaction: Other fans defended the reveal, pointing to Faye’s established status as a warrior and former Leviathan Axe owner within existing lore
• What both sides agree on: Even critical reactions have generally praised the combat and art direction shown in the reveal

Is There a Real Argument Buried in the Backlash?

FinalBoss’s own analysis pushed back on dismissing Jaffe entirely, while also rejecting his conclusion. The piece argues Jaffe raises a legitimate question about what makes a game “instantly recognizable” as God of War, separate from simply demanding Kratos stay the lead.

That distinction matters. A franchise refusing to ever change risks stagnating, but change without a clear identity risks losing what made the series work in the first place. Laufey is now the test case for whether Santa Monica Studio found that balance.

Bottom Line

Jaffe’s criticism and the broader fan backlash aren’t quite the same argument, but they’re feeding off each other. His complaint is about tone and identity. Much of the fan pushback is more simply about wanting Kratos back in the lead role. Both reactions point to the same underlying question: whether God of War’s audience will follow the series past its most iconic character, or whether Laufey asks them to make that leap too soon.