The upcoming God of War Laufey will be the first mainline entry in the franchise to feature a female protagonist, shifting focus to Faye—Kratos' wife and a powerful warrior and mage—who players will control in her afterlife journey. This departure from series tradition has generated mixed reactions, with some fans welcoming the new direction whilst others have voiced considerable negativity online, primarily centred on the absence of the franchise's iconic male hero.

During an appearance at Florida Supercon, actress Deborah Ann Woll, who portrays Faye, addressed the hostile commentary with composure. She stated she feels "totally unbothered" by the backlash, attributing her resilience to avoiding social media and her confidence in the game's quality. Woll noted that whilst the game may not appeal to everyone's taste, she considers it to be undeniably strong, implying that disagreement on preference does not reflect poor quality.