God of War Laufey pre-orders impress on PlayStation Store, trailing only GTA 6

Despite criticism for dropping Kratos as its star, God of War Laufey pre-order sales have started strong. Ahead of its February 2027 release date, the PS5 exclusive game sits only behind GTA 6 on the PlayStation Store. The Digital Deluxe Edition is also the most popular option for the Santa Monica Studio project.

The PS Store DB uses marketplace data to rank popular upcoming arrivals. Reflecting its global appeal, the new God of War game is at #2 in most countries, including the United States. Even among already available titles, it’s secured a top 10 position in 43 regions.

The GTA 6 benchmark

Unfortunately, the website and Sony don’t disclose total revenue or number of copies sold. Newzoo estimated GTA 6 generated around $260 million in the first week after PS5 and Xbox reservations opened. That is a tall task for any rival to match. Still, in many regions, Laufey is currently in front of heavy hitters like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4.

An important consideration is that God of War Laufey pre-order trends don’t account for PS5 disc sales. If the first-party candidate performs similarly to Marvel’s Wolverine, physical adoption could beat predictions. Regardless, the bulk of revenue should come from digital purchases on the PlayStation Store.

Common Laufey criticisms

Some naysayers believe the game will fall dramatically short of past entries in the series. When PlayStation unveiled the exclusive at the June 2026 State of Play, reactions were mixed. Notably, God of War creator David Jaffe said it strayed too far from a proven, successful formula.

Other followers aren’t convinced by combat that prioritizes finesse and ranged attacks over brute force. Unorthodox characters like the gelatinous cube Phranque have also confused fans. Regardless, positive previews argue the gameplay mechanics and cast fit in the Everywhen afterlife setting.

The February 16th God of War Laufey release date may give it breathing room from GTA 6. Upcoming weeks will reveal whether it can maintain its impressive pre-order sales pace.