Following Sony Interactive Entertainment's announcement that it will cease production of physical discs for new PlayStation games starting January 2028—a move that has sparked continued backlash from players—"God of War" developer Santa Monica Studio has confirmed that its upcoming title, "God of War: Laufey," will still receive a physical disc version, unexpectedly bringing the game's release window into focus.
The studio made the brief announcement on X (formerly Twitter) in a thread about the game's upcoming panel at San Diego Comic-Con, stating simply, "'God of War: Laufey' will have a physical disc version." As Sony previously stated that all new PS5 games from January 2028 onward will be digital-only, with only titles released in 2027 or earlier eligible for physical reprints, this has led to widespread speculation that the new "God of War" is likely targeting a 2027 release date.
Sony's policy to halt physical disc production has drawn significant criticism. Proponents of physical media argue that digital downloads cannot replace the value of discs for collecting, reselling, lending, and game preservation. A petition urging Sony to reconsider its policy has already garnered over 285,000 signatures.
"God of War: Laufey" was officially unveiled during last month's State of Play broadcast, where Santa Monica Studio showcased over 20 minutes of gameplay. Described by the studio as the "next chapter" in the "God of War" series, the story follows Faye as she awakens in a strange land after her funeral. She discovers that the plans she set in motion to protect Kratos and Atreus are in jeopardy, forcing her to venture deep into the gods' afterlife, the "Everywhen," to confront ruthless deities from various mythologies who are vying for power.