The announcement of God of War Laufey at Sony’s State of Play has set off a firestorm of debate across the gaming community. The upcoming title marks a bold departure for the franchise by placing Faye — Kratos’ wife and a character previously explored mostly through flashbacks — at the center of the story. While many fans have expressed genuine excitement about exploring a fresh perspective within the God of War universe, others have pushed back against the absence of series icon Kratos in the lead role. The discourse reached an unexpected peak when a corporate pizza chain decided to weigh in.
Domino’s Pizza UK, an account already known for its provocative social media presence, posted a tweet comparing the new game to a pepperoni pizza without the pepperoni. The post quickly went viral, amassing over four million views and tens of thousands of replies. Many users were quick to criticize the brand for what they saw as cheap engagement-farming at the expense of a legitimate creative decision. Responses ranged from blunt demands for the pizza company to stay out of gaming discourse to cutting comparisons with rival chains, as IGN reported.
Sony Santa Monica itself responded to the Domino’s tweet with a dry and understated reply — “ok thanks for the feedback, dominos pizza corporate account” — that quickly racked up three million impressions and widespread praise from fans who appreciated the studio’s composure. The exchange underscored how brand accounts increasingly attempt to hijack gaming conversations for engagement, though in this case the developer arguably won the exchange handily.
Beyond the social media spectacle, the studio has moved to address fan concerns about the franchise’s future more directly. In an internally produced interview published shortly after the reveal, creative director Cory Barlog and Laufey’s game director Ariel Lawrence both emphasized that Kratos remains central to the series’ long-term plans. “There’s always going to be Kratos games throughout the whole history,” Barlog stated, with Lawrence adding that the studio simply “can’t not tell stories about the big guy.” The studio’s official social media accounts later reiterated that more Kratos-led titles are in development, urging fans to embrace Faye’s story in the meantime.
God of War Laufey will follow Faye as she navigates the afterlife of the gods, dealing with the consequences of her husband’s legendary rampages across mythological realms. The game’s reveal trailer showed combat that appears faster and more fluid than its predecessors while still retaining the weighty, impactful animation style the series is known for. Kratos does appear in the trailer, though seemingly in a limited, spectral role. Fan reactions to the game’s unusual setting and new companion character — a gelatinous cube — have been mixed but largely curious.
The controversy around God of War Laufey reflects a broader pattern in the gaming industry, where announcements that challenge established expectations are met with both enthusiastic support and fierce resistance. Sony Santa Monica appears to be betting that expanding the narrative scope of its flagship franchise will pay off creatively, even if it means weathering a turbulent reveal cycle — and the occasional unsolicited opinion from a pizza company.