Hellblade 2: Story, Platforms & What You Need To Know

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 has been announced for some time now, having been first revealed more than three years ago at The Game Awards 2019. The original game was beloved by many and fans are keen to see the continuation of Senua’s journey of healing through trauma. The next instalment is one of Xbox’s most eagerly anticipated arrivals, despite not having a confirmed release date from developer Ninja Theory yet. Here’s everything you need to know about Hellblade 2, including its expected release window, story, and where it can be played.

 

When is Hellblade 2 Coming Out?

Xbox Game Studios and Ninja Theory are yet to confirm an official Hellblade 2 release date. The first instalment was released back in 2017, and Hellblade 2 was confirmed in 2019 at The Game Awards. All trailers and sneak peeks shown so far indicate that Hellblade 2 will feature a much more expanded world and more in-depth experience, so it’s understandable that the sequel might take some time to develop.

In June 2021, Ninja Theory provided a development update for Hellblade 2 where it explained that the game had not yet entered full production. A recent published interview with Heilung, the musicians providing the soundtrack for the game, also revealed that the soundtrack was not yet finished meaning there is still work ongoing.

There has been no further confirmed updates about the game, but hopefully some news will follow soon.

 

What is Hellblade 2 About?

Ninja Theory has not yet revealed much about the storyline for Hellblade 2. The studio has so far shared some concept art and information about the technology behind the game. In 2019, the reveal showed breathtaking environments, skull-filled, gloomy swamps, volcanic eruptions and ritualistic sacrifices.

The first game focused mainly on Senua’s struggle to heal following trauma, and the game was praised widely for its excellent narrative. Senua was solitary in the first game, and the player followed her as she navigated the world with her partner, Dillon’s, skull on a quest to attempt to reclaim his soul from Helheim and the goddess Hela. During the game, the player is shown flashbacks of Senua’s history and story including her psychological struggles, relationship issues and her village being destroyed by raiding Norse enemies.

The story for Hellblade 2 is likely to focus on deep and meaningful subjects, as at the end of the game Senua is finding acceptance with her condition.

 

Which Platforms Will Hellblade 2 Be On?

In a gameplay trailer released in 2021, Ninja Theory confirmed that Hellblade 2 will launch on Xbox Series X & S, Xbox Cloud Gaming and PC. This means that those Xbox console owners who’ve not yet upgraded to the next gen consoles may still be able to play the game via Cloud Gaming. As Hellblade 2 is an Xbox Game Studios project, it will be a day one Game Pass release too. Unfortunately for PlayStation owners, despite the original game being released for Sony’s consoles back in 2017, Microsoft acquired four studios including Ninja Theory in 2018. This means that Hellblade 2 will be exclusive to Xbox and PC.

 

Who is Developing Hellblade 2?

Ninja Theory is the developer behind the Hellblade series. The studio has previously worked on Bleeding Edge, Nicodemus: Demon of Evanishment, Devil May Cry, the Disney Infinity series and more. The studio has been very transparent regarding the development process for Hellblade 2, regularly sharing behind the scenes looks at progress and updates on production. In a developer update shared in 2021, Ninja Theory showed its process of building real costumes to be scanned into the game, including setting them on fire in real life for added in-game authenticity where needed. Senua’s voice actress, Melina Juergens, has also provided behind the scenes footage of combat training.

READ NEXT: Hades 2: Story, Platforms & What You Need To Know