PlayStation reveals a surprise Kiwi connection in new ‘God of War Laufey’

PlayStation has surprised gamers by announcing in their June ‘State of Play’ showcase their long-rumoured ‘God of War’ spin-off: 'God of War Laufey’.

But for Kiwis, an added surprise is a familiar local voice in an unusual character - talking ribbon.

Developer Santa Monica Studio officially confirmed that its Norse-era prequel pivots the focus from main star Kratos to his late wife, Faye (Laufey the Just), who passed away before the events of the 2018 reboot.

The extended gameplay, which hit more than 1 million views in 5 hours, showcased mind-blowing current-gen visuals, heavy-hitting combat, and unexpected companions.

While Phranque, a talking jelly-like cube voiced by Jack Quaid, has received plenty of attention for its comical inclusion, attentive Kiwi listeners have realised the talking ribbon of the sword is voiced by none other than New Zealand actress and broadcaster Perlina Lau.

In her first video game acting role, Perlina Lau explained that her character Rue is there to help “point out the risks”.

But don’t downplay the role of a talking ribbon in this video game. As Perlina explains:

When she goes into fight mode, it’s like, badass. It’s so cool, and I love that contrast there.

While moving away from Kratos is a massive creative risk, Santa Monica Studio views it as a natural next step for the franchise.

Talking to IGN ahead of the showcase, creative director Cory Barlog explained that he knew way back in 2018 he wanted to explore her story, calling Faye the "anchor to the rebirth":

We'll always tell stories about Kratos, but I think for us, it was just a chance to talk about somebody who was so pivotal to the beginning and get to know them and push beyond into this new world and give us some place to be surprised and see how things connect. So for us, it's not a departure; it's more of an expansion.

If the 22-minute trailer is anything to go by, Laufey’s journey isn’t going to be a peaceful walk in the mythical park.

Eagle-eyed fans immediately deduced the setting from the gameplay footage, noting that Faye doesn't seem to be taking her passing lying down.

And the YouTube comments section had huge appreciation for the leading lady.

"Got to the afterlife and immediately started throwing hands and collecting bodies. That's Kratos' woman alright," wrote one fan.

Another hyped up her combat powers, writing, "Now I understand why Kratos said she fought beautifully! Girl is an absolute unit!!"

However, not everyone is entirely convinced about the game's new, slightly weirder elements.

For example, the inclusion of Phranque the jelly cube is definitely a choice for a typically serious-toned franchise, with one reviewer from Men's Journal noting that a "talking gelatinous cube named Phranque screamed Thor: Ragnarok."

Still, they admitted, given the sheer quality of the last two God of War games, Santa Monica Studio has earned our trust to deliver.

‘God of War Laufey’ is shaping up to be a mammoth release that proves the franchise has plenty of life left in it. But if that wasn’t enough GOW goodness for the fans, Sony is also remaking the original God of War trilogy.

Release dates have yet to be announced, but PlayStation has teased that they will share plenty more about the afterlife of the gods closer to the time.