Who is Laufey (Faye) in God of War?
Updated Info updated 2026-06-03 · 6 min read
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Quick Answer
Faye is Laufey — the same character. Laufey is her true name; “Faye” was the alias she used while hiding her family from the gods. She is the second wife of Kratos, the mother of Atreus, and a frost giant of Jötunheim known across the Nine Realms as Laufey the Just and the Golden Hand of the Jötnar. In God of War: Laufey, she is the playable protagonist for the first time.
Faye is Laufey — and not the singer
Two things confuse people the most, so let's clear them up first. Faye and Laufey are one person: Santa Monica Studio has confirmed that “Faye” is simply the alias Laufey adopted when she and her family were forced into hiding from the gods. She kept her true nature — a Giant of Jötunheim — secret even from those closest to her.
- Thinking Faye and Laufey are two different characters — they are the same person.
- Confusing her with Laufey the Icelandic singer — unrelated; they only share a name.
- Assuming she is human — she is a frost giant (Jötunn) who lived under a mortal disguise.
A frost giant of Jötunheim
Laufey is a Jötunn — a frost giant of Jötunheim, the realm of the Giants. For years she lived in Midgard under the name Faye, hiding her giant lineage even from her own family. Per the official PlayStation Blog, she was “a legendary warrior and leader” whose mark “was left on the Nine Realms long before she ever met Kratos.”
Laufey the Just & the Golden Hand of the Jötnar
Two titles define her standing among the Giants. Laufey the Just is her name across the Nine Realms — a legendary warrior, leader and protector. As the Golden Hand of the Jötnar, “the most powerful protector of the Giants,” she “wielded fearsome powers, including the ability to manipulate souls” — the seed of her signature Golden Hand combat ability in God of War: Laufey. She also has the power of foresight, has “proven equal to even the likes of Thor,” and — a detail long-time fans will recognize — the Leviathan Axe was originally crafted for her before it ever reached Kratos.
Ties to Kratos & Atreus
Faye is the second wife of Kratos and the mother of Atreus. The plans she put in place to protect both of them are the emotional engine of the game's story: after awakening unexpectedly following her own funeral, she discovers those plans are now at risk, and she must fight to return to the family she loves.
Faye across the Norse saga
- God of War (2018): present only as a corpse — her funeral pyre opens the game — yet her wishes drive the entire journey.
- God of War Ragnarök (2022): Faye returns, seen and heard, in dream sequences.
- God of War: Laufey (2026): for the first time, Faye is the playable protagonist. The story begins the moment her body burns on that 2018 funeral pyre.
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