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Since debuting with Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice and subsequently joining Microsoft, Ninja Theory has earned a place in the little green hearts of Xbox with its bold, cutting-edge approach to storytelling. Seven years later, the studio is preparing to release the long-awaited sequel, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, which promises to offer an even more immersive experience and exciting.
Studio director Dom Mathews explained the process of this revolutionary sequel, from the creative decisions to the technological innovations behind its creation.
Senua no longer belongs to us. Our fans are also interested and have built a relationship with her. The onus is on us to deliver the next part of the story in a way that is faithful to that. It's an absolute privilege to have her, we're incredibly lucky to have a character and a world that people care so much about – Dom Matthews, Ninja Theory
Hellblade 2 is the evolution of Senua and her peculiar inner world
The journey towards Senua's Saga: Hellblade II began with Ninja Theory's concern for continue exploring mental health topics through an interactive medium, such as video games. With Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice, the studio set a new standard in storytelling in this industry, demonstrating that complex themes can be addressed with great sensitivity and depth, in addition to an innovative binaural sound technique.
Now, with the sequel, the team has embarked on a new adventure, expanding the world of Senua with top-level technology, such as the Unreal Engine 5 graphics engine and an even more ambitious approach to player immersion.
Technological advancement is an integral part of the evolution of Senua's Saga: Hellblade II. From motion capture to audio design, every aspect of the game has been enhanced to deliver a visual and auditory experience incomparable. With the support of Xbox Game Studios, Ninja Theory has been able to take advantage of the latest resources and technologies to bring Senua and her inner world towards greater realism and emotional depth.
Narrative history and combat style that we will experience in Hellblade 2
One of the most distinctive features of the Hellblade series is its deeply personal and emotional narrative. Since the first game, Ninja Theory has demonstrated its ability to tell stories that resonate with players on an emotional level. With Hellblade 2, the studio aims to revolutionize the narrative style, delving even deeper into Senua's disturbed psyche and his emotional challenges, as he faces an increasingly dangerous and unknown world.
On the other hand, we have combat, a very important part of Senua's journey. Its gameplay has also been revamped with an emphasis on sharing similarities with the original game, but being even more intense and visceral That this. Each fight feels carefully designed and calculated, with a focus on the connection between Senua and his enemies. It is not about facing hordes, but about One-on-one fights that are cleverly woven into the adventure, aligning with Senua's persistence. Combat is based on motion capture to make it feel more consistent and real to the player, and the importance of each hit having a tangible impact is emphasized.
Hellblade 2 is an all-new adventure that feels familiar and rooted in its ambition, while also offering a breakthrough in its technology. Ninja Theory knows where to guide us, and with a setting as magnificent as this, we will have no choice but to take Senua to the end. We can do it from May 21 on PC, Xbox and Game Pass.