
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 releases exclusively on Xbox Series X|S today, 21st May. With a PS5 port reportedly being pondered, anticipation is high to see how the sequel to the previously PS4 console exclusive Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is received. While some feared that developer Ninja Theory's celebratory Twitter post was a "goodbye" of sorts, it has since been reported that the studio's next game has actually already been greenlit.
Ahead of launch, Ninja Theory studio head Dom Mathews posted what at first glance appears to be an ominous notice, as industry observers have been trained to expect such a layout to bring word of studio closure or impending layoffs. Instead, Matthews thanked fans for the support the developers have been seeing throughout development:
"Making video games is difficult. Much like Senua, we as a team have been guided by conviction to achieve our quest: to make a game that sinks you deep into Senua's world and takes you on a journey that leaves you thinking and feeling. I believe we have achieved our quest and I hope you'll agree. I'm very proud of the game, our team, and you, our fans, who have supported us on this magical journey."
Following the closure of Tango Gameworks, there is a feeling that Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 could be on the chopping block if it doesn't perform financially and doesn't seem to have gotten much of a marketing push from Xbox. Indeed, some commenters joke that Matthews' Tweet is the extent of the game's marketing.
However, according to Window's Central's Jez Corden, citing trusted sources, Ninja Theory shouldn't be counted out just yet. The journalist says that in addition to the in-development horror game Project Mara, the developer's next game has already been greenlit and that there are no plans to close the studio anytime soon.
How excited are you by the prospect of Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 port for PS5? What do you think Ninja Theory has got cooking, and of premature reports of the studio's impending doom? Let us know in the comments section below.
[source twitter.com, via twitter.com]
Comments 51
TFW Xbox is so small you start getting your Xbox news from PushSquare 😂
I think Ninja Theory will be fine, but Hellblade 2 is such a strange "tentpole" title. I loved the original, but it was very much a smaller affair, and it doesn't sound like the sequel is building too much on that.
I'm sure it'll have outstanding audio and visuals, though. The original had some of the best sound design I've ever experienced.
You still gotta imagine how this game is gonna sell. The day before it comes out it’s the 15th best selling game on Steam. The original was a PS console exclusive for a decent period of time so there’s definitely a sizeable people who were fans of the original who can’t play this one. It’ll probably get a lot of players on Gamepass but I can’t see how this would make its money back. Maybe the budget wasn’t that high but it’s been in development since at least 2019.
@Frmknst if only Naughty Dog could release a game on Naughty Dog level. Ever since they've become you know, "auteurs," their games are no fun.
Jez said xbox was not porting games on ps5
MS CEO: And then I took it personally.
@SonicMania_ just too miserable for me. I don't begrudge anyone loving it, I'm just more a Jak and Daxter kinda guy.
why have two sites when you just post xbox news on the PlayStation site
@get2sammyb didn't even knop they were actually releasing this game.
had to see the tweet to believe it was true.
a game this important to xbox shows a bit what is going to happen shutter the studio or let them go.
even in the heavenly sword days they took years and years to release anything always delays.
they probably already got an offer from epic or a chinese investor like the shadow of the colossus creator.
"How excited are you by the prospect of Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 port for PS5?"
I'm bored just thinking about it 😅 can't believe there are people that didn't find the first one dull. On top of the ugly art style one of the slowest games. That aside I'm happy that they aren't closing, maybe later we can get a colab with Sony and they can remake Heavenly Sword!
Wait? So this game is finally releasing, after so many years and all they've shown is a couple of trailers which didn't even show any gameplay or anything whats new from the first. Just here is some very shiny new graphics.
With the prospect that it may come to ps5 one day.
Yes the first game was a bit different compared to other games and touched on mental health.
But it was just a walking simulator with a few enemies which wasn't really a skill based and some puzzles. Great small experience.
Not bashing the game but to have sequel and not actually promote it. Does Xbox know what they are doing?
Edit; went to check reviews but nothing yet but its being reported the game is only 7 to 8 hours long, just like the first so has all these years just been graphics graphics graphics.
Its being reported 8 hours for 100% completion.
I would buy this day one if it came to PS5
I can already feel my inner ear recoil in horror at the thought of those voices. I respect the first one a lot but man, I’m still impressed that they created a game that I just couldn’t play.
bu bu but Microsoft is preparing to shutter Ninja Theory...
I wouldn't play this if it did come to PS5, the first one was boring and I honestly don't get the hype, and now there's people saying it's on Naughty Dogs level 😂, visually it is but that's where it stops. I can't believe it's took 7 years just for 7 hours of gameplay...
If the game flops or gets bad reviews then you can pretty much wave goodbye to Ninja Theory. Doesn't help Microsoft haven't really marketed this game well either, even Pushsquare have marketed this game better.
OK, so the biggest marketing thing here that I see is that it will come to PS5 this is where it may make some money. I will buy it if it comes.
Great and all but I could care less about this game. Not because I'm some blindly allegiant Sony zombie, as we all know I'm certainly not. It's because this is not a game in my eyes and more an experience.
One too afraid to be a game in favor of doubling down on the original rather than see the series actually undergo a metamorphosis into more than just a slightly interactive cg movie.
With the dev time and additional financial backing that this had, one would have thought some level of addressing it's precessors shortcomings would have been considered.
Even at 49.99, this is just an overpriced visual experience masquerading as a game.
Hopefully their next project is an actual game with some more depth or they just accept being a movie maker or vr experience maker and fully dive into that.
why is this xbox news on a PlayStation site?
The Reviews are live and it's scoring worse than the last game, also playthroughs are live on YouTube and are averaging 5 hours for completion which is really poor considering it's been 7 years and it's a $50 game.
This will 100% be coming to Playstation 5.
Ninja Theory is the only interesting studio under XBox's umbrella they haven't ruined yet.
@UltimateOtaku91 the f it is... It's scoring incredibly well man. Stop being such a jerk. 10/10 is almost all I see bud.
@11001100110zero You don't get an 81 on metacritic with 10/10's across the board...
@Bez87 every trailer has showed gameplay and they confirmed the length last year
Ah... no. That does not mean they are safe. The axe can fall at any moment, especially if senua 2 is a sales flop. New projects can be cancelled easily. Especially if they are just starting.
But closures are more likely at bethesda and activision.
@11001100110zero it's not all 10/10 lol, some sites are giving it 5/6 out of 10 as well and pure xbox gave it a 7/10. It's metacritic is 81 on xbox and 80 on PC which is lower that the previous game.
@UltimateOtaku91and thats a good score ghost of tsushima is 83
There are lots of people here already saying they have no interest in the game and turning their noses up at it, who will be cheering loudly and saying "Day 1 for me!" if ever gets announced for PS5. 😂
Have been playing the thing for the last 2.5 hrs and it's pretty awesome. Great presentation and sound design (as you can imagine if you know Pt. 1), gameplay is more of the same but well that mustn't be a bad thing for a sequel. So far I'm looking forward to continue playing and also would play and crave a PS5 port. Since I'm playing on a Series S I'd expect clearer resolution and higher FPS but it's no real prob on Series S as well at how the game is paced.
Unless they get too big, Ninja Theory should be around for a long while. Their tech and development style produces a really good game with a small team.
Hellblade was one of my favorite releases, absolutely jazzed to go back.
I thought it was going to be a below average walking sim back when they revealed the trailer. As it turns out I was correct.
I played the first thinking it might be interesting but ehhh, what a slog. I understand that a game about mental illness isn't supposed to be fun or a good time but it basically was about lining up symbols in the environment while endless chatter repeated lines like "You can't do it!....Yes, you can!!!"
I'll pass on this when it gets a PS5 release to try to recover its development costs.
Xbox bought ninja theory specifically. They did not buy Tango specifically. It was included in the bethesda deal. The real prize of the deal for xbox was bgs, id, machine games, zenimax online, and all the ip. They didn't buy bethesda for the small teams they closed. I don't think ninja theory has anything to worry about.
@Toot1st Ghost of Tsushima on PS5 was rated 87 and PC 89. But 81 isn't bad that wasn't my point. I was pointing out it's not as good as the last game and actually got worse even with a 7 year wait.
hellblade 2 will do very poorly on xbox. the demographic is simply not there for auteur projects such as this. it is a bit surreal that a playstation focused website will begin covering xbox games, knowing that a ps release is an inevitability.
currently playing the first game... yes, it is a walking simulator with light puzzle solving (i need to add that the puzzles are very repetitive and frustrating) and occassional combat. the core is the narrative and it excels in that area above all else. hellblade is definitely not for everyone, but it is probably worth a look if you are in the mood for a dark, psychological, mythological themed experience. why some people are giving hellblade 2 scathing reviews is beyond me — were they asleep when the first game released and expected a different genre this time around?
all that being said, i am very concerned for ninja theory's future. they are a talented studio that needs a little guidance and support to truly fulfill their potential. microsoft is terrible at project managment and developing its studios so unless ninja theory can deliver a hugely successful game, their time is limited.
@Bez87 4 to 5 hours max.
@UltimateOtaku91 Definitely not 7 hours. It's 5 hours max some beat it in 4 hours.
You guys aren’t missing anything having it be only on Xbox right now. I played it for 30 min on Xbox Gamepass - held UP the entire time to move forward while hearing whispers. Will never play again.
The best of luck to their new project.
Hopefully it's not another 5yrs to see it.
@Don_Corleone @Don_Corleone are you both actually joking?
I really hope they make an action game next. Not really into these pseudo walking sims. DMC and Enslaved were excellent games with great stories and great gameplay.
@Bez87 Joking? The game is actually 5 hours long. It's a fact not a joke.
@UltimateOtaku91 Ghost would be a 97 but metacritic doesn't filter out childish Xbox players review bombing anything PlayStation. It was very high but the majority of negative reviews are from those people who didn't even play the game.
@BigRadical I really enjoyed the first hellblade on PS4.
Removed - flaming/arguing
@Bez87 No Joke, go on YouTube for a full Walkthrough and the first three are all around the 5hr 24min mark. Highest being 6hr 1min anf lowest so far 4hr 59min. To me personally that's way to short for a 50 dollar game.
@UltimateOtaku91 @Don_Corleone so your telling me a game which has been basically in development since 2017.
Was showcased at the launch of a console has come out.
Nearing the half way point of a consoles life cycle, and is only 5 to 6 hours long, most of which is a mostly cinematic interactive movie, sprinkled in gameplay and some combat of which is focused more on the cinematic than the actual battle.
And we have a playstation website covering this game?
Seriously?
We didn't even have this much coverage for starfield.
Looking at reviews. The only good thing is the graphics really and story. Gameplay seems to be second.
I'm not yearning for this game to come to playstation.
Is this another xbox one launch game scenario?
Cant remember what that game was called but it was amazing graphics but non existent gameplay.
The first game wasn't to bad but come on bigger budget under Microsoft a long development cycle and a 5 hour game is what they made.
I'm good thanks
@Bez87 You know what the funny part is man. I am a Sony guy at heart but have an Xbox I barely play. My ps5 is pretty much my 99.9 percent go to. I played hellblade the first one on PS4 pro. I loved it and it was definitely way longer than 5 hours. I was excited for part 2 but spending over $20 for a game that short is disrespectful. They should be ashamed of themselves for not giving us 20 hours of gameplay. I think teenage mutant ninja turtles the latest game is what $20. Funny because ninja theory is already working on another game not hellblade but something else. I am probably going to pass because of this. Games under 20 hours should be max $30 minimum $20. I would say this should have been $14.99 for hellblade 2.
@Don_Corleone just checked the price. This is an actual joke.
We actually moaned that the last of us part 1 on ps5 for full price was just wrong. A game which can take 15 to 20 hours to complete.
A game like God of war ragnarok, spiderman 2.
Baldurs gate 3.
Then this 5 hour game is trying to charge 50 pound.
Now does game length matter? Well normally that a subjective debate when games are around 10 to 15 hours compared to baldurs gate or fallout type games.
But a 5 to 6 hour look at me pretty graphics game but not much less than a triple gameis an actual insult.
I appreciate the graphics and the tech i really do but im not paying for a 5 hour experience.
@Bez87 Completely agree man! I never played Baldurs gate but everyone is saying to try it. I play a lot of games. I might get it since you mentioned it. I assume you are in the UK since you mentioned 50 pounds. Got some good friends from London I have to visit. I'm in the capital of the US. Washington DC. Hellblade 2 does look amazing but don't disrespect us gamers and expect us to pay a lot for a short experience. The order 1886 remember that on PS4 probably one of the best looking games on console ever. It was beautiful but short like 10 to 12 hours max I believe but it was $60 US dollars not sure in pounds. People complained but thinking about it now. That's not too bad compared to 5 hours right. Enjoy your weekend bro!! I think I might try something new this weekend. Baldurs gate 3 might be it.
@Don_Corleone well I take it that in the US its 49.99 but is that the price before tax? I know you lot have to deal with prices not being exact and having to add it on for yourselves. I've been to the US, once and remember having to double check prices because of this but I'm not sure on how it works these days.
Yes the order 1886, a master piece in graphics, it was the first game in which you couldn't tell when a cutacene ended and gameplay began, it was the beginning of the end to cgi cuts cutscenes.
It wasn't a bad game either and I'd of liked a sequel to it but was never ment to be because of the outcry of fans angry at the short length of the game and hardly any gameplay, they called it a tech demo.
To me both hellblade and hellblade 2 are basically tech demoes in the same regard to the order 1886.
But on the howlongtobeat website.
The order 1886 on average took 7 hours to beat.
Hellblade was 7 hours 30mins.
Hellblade 2 is 6 to 7 hours.
But of course its not about length, its about the price of entry for that length of a game. As you said there are many amazing games at lower prices with a lot more content. It be funny to see if the game actually sells or not. Esp with the game pass involved quick sign up to game pass for a discount you could get it played and cancel your sub.
Never been to Washington dc, did the old florida Disney world holiday. But always wanted to do a off the beaten track road trip through America.
I live in a small town up north in England. Blackpool Famous for its tourist attractions and Blackpool Tower. Its gets a bad reputation but millions flock here every year so can't be that bad hahaha
Awesome! I will have to visit Blackpool when I visit my friends there when I get vacation time from my job. Yeah I finished the order 1886 at it's max time as I am on PlayStation now 11 hours and 10 minutes. It shows your playing time on PlayStation. I got 100 percent platinum on it. I like to get everything in a game 100 percent. I think speedrun or skipping scenes and collectibles you knock off several hours. I know they will definitely bring hellblade 2 to ps5 but people aren't going to buy it because of the expensive price for a few hours of gameplay. Xbox division has been dropping the ball since the original Xbox. They said they didn't believe in single player games and that blew up in their face. Microsoft should just stick with software. That's what they were known for. Windows is their money maker. They have been in loss of profit since the original Xbox. The Activision deal was 70 billion and they aren't deeper in the hole for the Xbox division. Game pass doesn't have enough people to make up that money. Cod and candy crush will make them money but it's going to awhile to make that back. Most of the cod revenue comes from PlayStation.
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...