Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 to run at 30FPS on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S
Recent reports have revealed that the highly anticipated game, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, will run at 30FPS on both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles. This news comes from German outlet GamePro, indicating that the game won’t have an optional performance mode on Xbox and will be locked at 30FPS with a dynamic resolution. However, players on the PC version will have the flexibility to enjoy higher FPS rates.
In an interview with Hellblade 2‘s visual effects director, Mark Slater-Tunstill, it was mentioned that despite the 30FPS limitation, the experience on Xbox Series X|S is intended to feel more “cinematic,” drawing a comparison to the frame rates of movies shot at 24 frames per second.
GamePro’s preview also assured that the 30FPS cap should not significantly impact the gameplay experience, stating that “the smooth 30 fps didn’t bother me, at least not in the playback session,” emphasizing the deliberate pace and weightiness of the gameplay.
Hellblade 2 is being developed on Unreal Engine 5, leveraging the engine’s Nanite geometry system to achieve a high level of fidelity. This approach allows for more realistic visuals and a streamlined development process, as described by Ninja Theory: “the turnaround between scanning the thing and putting it in the level is drastically cut, and you can spend that time finessing.”
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is scheduled to be released on May 21 for Xbox Series X|S and PC, continuing the story of protagonist Senua as she embarks on a harrowing journey to confront the Vikings in Iceland who ravaged her homeland.
After its initial announcement in 2019, Ninja Theory showcased the game with a six-minute gameplay trailer at The Game Awards 2021, followed by an official story trailer during The Game Awards 2023.