PlayStation's Rough Year: Can God of War: Laufey Save the Brand?

A new op-ed argues Sony needs a major win, and the 2027 release of God of War: Laufey could be the comeback the PlayStation brand desperately needs.

PlayStation has had a rough year, and one outlet thinks Kratos' next chapter might be the cure. GameRant recently published an op-ed arguing that God of War: Laufey, launching in February 2027, isn't just another exclusive—it's carrying the weight of the entire brand on its shoulders.

The author, LB Beistad, laid out a laundry list of Sony's recent missteps: the upcoming end of physical game production in 2028, slow output of major exclusives, a stubborn push into live-service projects, the controversial cancellation of new Destiny 2 content that upset the community, and the high-profile split from Hideo Kojima. According to the piece, Sony is in dire need of a major victory.

Sure, PS5 exclusives like Saros performed well in 2026, but their niche appeal makes huge commercial success unlikely. Sony had high hopes for Marvel's Wolverine—and while sales were solid, the online controversies and drama surrounding it left plenty of players disappointed. On top of that, the entire console generation hasn't quite lived up to expectations.

Games like Astro Bot and Ghost of Yotei brought plenty of fun, but the volume of quality titles still isn't enough to convince many players that buying a PS5 is a worthwhile investment. GameRant points out that Sony's insistence on stuffing live-service projects into its lineup has been baffling, wasting time that could've gone toward long-awaited sequels or brand-new single-player IPs. Instead, the list of canceled live-service games keeps growing—and even studios like Bluepoint Games have been shut down as a result.

Looking ahead to 2027, Sony's console exclusives currently amount to just Until Dawn 2 and God of War: Laufey. The former is fairly niche, which puts even more expectation on the latter. There are rumors that Naughty Dog's long-in-development project Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet could launch in 2027, but until an official date is announced, that's just speculation. Against this backdrop, God of War: Laufey is under serious pressure—and plenty of skeptics doubt that a God of War without Kratos as the lead will be widely accepted. The article argues that Laufey must prove the series can survive a protagonist switch while also dragging the PlayStation brand out of its slump.

Timing is everything, too. God of War: Laufey arrives as the PS5 reportedly enters the final years of its lifecycle, with rumors suggesting the PS6 could launch as early as 2027—though 2028 seems more likely, especially since Sony plans to stop producing physical game discs that year. Whispers also suggest the next-gen console could cost over $1,000.

In closing, the piece notes that whether God of War: Laufey ultimately succeeds remains to be seen. Sony is at a critical juncture, and to remind players that PlayStation hasn't forgotten why the brand was once so worthy of attention and loyalty, it needs a game that truly reaches new heights. What do you think—can Laufey pull it off? Let us know in the comments.