Corey Barlog says the events of 'Laufey' run parallel to the timeline of 'God of War' and 'Ragnarok'
"[It] has direct connections to everything, so that everything is part of a singular universe inside of it"
"None of this is like we're telling a side story. This is all a new chapter in the same book, a massive book, and we are starting to show that this has more than you could have imagined"
(via @IGN)
New VIRTUA FIGHTER
ยท Full-scale series revival by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (SEGA), built on Unreal Engine 5
ยท Two rule sets: Standard (classic health/ring out) and Uprising (momentum-shifting mechanics)
ยท Break & Rush: target specific body regions, repeated strikes inflict permanent round-to-round debuffs
ยท Stunner & Stun Combo: trigger an ember effect on vulnerable areas for heavy stuns and free combos
ยท Flow Guard: new dynamic defensive tool for seamless offense-defense transitions
ยท First dedicated single-player story mode in series history
ยท Confirmed characters: Akira Yuki, Wolf Hawkfield, newcomer Stella; new protagonist teased
ยท Leaked pre-alpha footage shows Unreal Engine 5 lighting and a crossroad battle mode
ยท Platforms and release date TBA
Hello everyone,
As many of you just saw in todayโs State of Play, pre-orders for Phantom Blade Zero will open this summer!
At the same time, I want to share another update: Phantom Blade Zero will now launch on October 29, 2026, moved from its previous date of September 9, 2026.
First of all, I want to offer my sincere apologies to all the players who have been following and supporting us. This was not an easy decision. More than anyone, we understand the expectations our players have placed on us. And precisely because of those expectations, we do not want to release Phantom Blade Zero knowing there is still an opportunity to take it one step further.
Looking back over the past few years, the development of Phantom Blade Zero has been a thrilling journey of evolution. As we built the game, we continued learning, refining our technology, and expanding the scale and resources behind the project. From its first reveal in 2023, to its first offline hands-on demo in 2024, to the Seven-Star Sword Formation, Lion Dance, and Drunken Sword showcased in 2025, Phantom Blade Zero has continued to evolve year after year, with each new showing representing a clear leap forward from the last. And we have shared that evolution with players around the world every step of the way.
Over the past few months, we have been streamlining content and focusing our efforts on polishing the areas that matter most. During this process, I saw one final opportunity for Phantom Blade Zero to make another meaningful leap forward.
We have upgraded a number of character models and reworked many environments across the game, pushing them toward the highest standard we can currently achieve. We have also spent additional effort preserving as much of this visual impact as possible even without relying on ray tracing. Of course, ray tracing will further enhance the visuals, but our priority is to make sure the core look, atmosphere, and intensity of Phantom Blade Zero come through at full force for as many players as possible.
A 50-day delay cannot solve everything. But it does give us enough time to complete a number of clearly defined and genuinely important improvements. These refinements will directly affect how the game feels when players first step into the world of Phantom Blade Zero. We could have delivered some of them through post-launch updates, but for the players who choose to join us on day one, we believe they deserve the best version of Phantom Blade Zero we can deliver from the very beginning.
I am truly sorry for the delay, and I want to thank everyone who has continued to follow and support Phantom Blade Zero. This summer, we will have much more to show you. I believe every extra day of waiting will be worth it.
I'd also like to share what you can expect next:
1. A new trailer that will release alongside pre-orders, featuring entirely new in-game footage.
2. After pre-order opens, we will also have a dedicated State of Play focused entirely on Phantom Blade Zero: a 15-to-20-minute deep dive into the gameโs world, combat, exploration, and character progression systems. The vast majority of what we show there will be brand-new.
We will share the exact dates in upcoming announcements!
Once again, thank you all for your continued support!
Soulframe
S-GAME CEO / Creator of Phantom Blade Zero
God of War Laufey announced
Experience the next chapter of the legendary God of War franchise - for both new and returning fans alike.
Death was supposed to be the end, but for Laufey (Faye), warrior and wife to Kratos, a new adventure is just beginning. Awakening unexpectedly in a strange land after her death, Faye discovers the plans she put in place to protect Kratos and Atreus in her absence are now at risk.
To save the ones she loves, Faye must fight through the afterlife of the gods - the Everywhen - where ruthless gods from across mythology vie for power in a land overflowing with dangerous magic. Harness Faye's speed, control, and relentlessness to overwhelm even the fiercest of foes with decisive, deadly precision.
God of War Laufey is coming soon to PlayStationยฎ5 consoles.