God of War Laufey pre-orders open ahead of February launch

Pre-orders for God of War Laufey open on 29 September at 10:00am local time, with the game arriving on PlayStation 5 on 16 February 2027. Santa Monica Studio used the announcement to detail what comes in the Digital Deluxe Edition and to show off Faye's new weapon, the Serpent Bow.

The pre-order bonus is the usual bundle of cosmetics and currency: the Last Wish Armor Set, a Phranque Golden Leaves appearance and an in-game resource pack for anyone who buys before launch. The Digital Deluxe Edition adds the Dark Alchemy Armor Set, the Dark Alchemy Blade, Dark Alchemy Bow Scales and a Dark Alchemy Catalyst, plus an in-game resource pack, a digital mini artbook and the official digital soundtrack. Santa Monica Studio has not published UK pricing in the post, so check the PlayStation Store listing for your region before you commit.

Faye's Serpent Bow, explained

Faye's new bow is an enchanted weapon with the shifting form of a serpent, and the studio is leaning on two aiming modes to give it some range. A full press of the aim trigger drops her into Precision mode, which increases draw distance and lets her charge up to five stacked arrows for a volley; shots placed on specific points of an enemy's body impair their movement or their ability to strike back, opening up a follow-up melee hit. A half press gives you hip-fire mode instead, a more mobile stance that fires clustered arrows at close range.

On top of the two fire modes there are several arrow types, including rapid fire, explosive detonations and multi-target shots, and the bow takes different Scales that change both its look and the perk it specialises in. Faye's gear splits into three customisable parts: a Blade for her sword, Scales for the bow and Catalysts, the artefacts that channel the magic of the Everywhen. Unlockable skills sit on top of all of it.

A pre-order post doing the job of a pre-order post

This is a marketing beat rather than a reveal: the game was announced in June, and the studio says more news is coming before launch. What it does tell you is that the February date is firm enough to take money, and that the combat identity is built around ranged, mobile play rather than the heavier, slower stance Kratos players are used to.

Our opinion

Pre-order bonuses are usually packaging, and this list is honest packaging: armour, a cosmetic, some resources and a bow skin, none of which changes the game. The Digital Deluxe Edition is the interesting one, because the Dark Alchemy Bow Scales are a perk rather than a paint job, and buying a stat advantage before the game is out is the sort of thing that quietly annoys everyone who waits for reviews. The Serpent Bow itself is the part worth getting excited about. Two aim modes with distinct risk profiles, arrows that do different jobs and per-enemy weak points is a combat system with actual depth behind it, and it is a smart way to make Faye feel like her own fighter instead of a Kratos reskin. But the launch is four and a half months away. There is no penalty for waiting until February to find out whether it works.