Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II
Today marks the highly anticipated release of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II on multiple platforms including Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Game Pass.
This sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice brings back Senua in a fierce battle for survival amidst the mythical and tyrannical world of Viking Iceland. Developed by a team of around 80 individuals, Hellblade II is a labor of love that aims to deeply immerse players in Senua’s world and narrative. The core mission of Ninja Theory as a studio is to create impactful art through innovative technology, providing players with an experience that elicits both emotions and contemplation.
Immersion is key at Ninja Theory, with the belief that by completely immersing players in Senua’s Saga, an unforgettable journey can be forged. This immersion is achieved through painstaking attention to detail, from using satellite data and photogrammetry to recreate real locations in Iceland, to meticulously crafting digital doubles of real individuals and authentic costume designs.
Not only is the presentation grounded in reality, but the narrative themes in Senua’s journey, particularly her experiences of psychosis, are based on real-world references. Senua is portrayed as an individual living in a unique reality, seeing and hearing things that others do not, and possessing distinct beliefs about the world.
In order to authentically depict Senua’s psychosis experiences, Ninja Theory has worked closely with experts in neuroscience and individuals with lived experience of psychosis. Their collaboration has provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by individuals living with psychosis, with the goal of portraying Senua’s journey in a meaningful and respectful manner.
The development of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II has been a true passion project for the team at Ninja Theory and their collaborators. The support from fans throughout the game’s development journey has been greatly appreciated.
As players prepare to embark on Senua’s journey in Hellblade II, now is the time to dim the lights, don headphones, and immerse oneself in what promises to be an unforgettable experience.