Hellblade 2 developer isn't shutting down – next game already has the green light

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 screenshot — Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 – will there be a third game? (Xbox Game Studios)

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is out today and has predictably received mixed reviews, but whatever you think of the game, the main concern is the future of developer Ninja Theory given what's already happened with the makers of Hi-Fi Rush and Redfall.

Earlier this month, Microsoft reportedly said this was the case I'm not sure Hellblade 2 would be a 'success' even if it were to be a multi-format release, which doesn't bode well for Ninja Theory's future.

While there is apparently a lot of disagreement within Microsoft about their overall policies and the fate of their various developers, the latest suggestion is that not only is Ninja Theory safe, but they are currently working on two new games.

We didn't like either Hellblade game, but in terms of graphics and presentation, both titles are exceptional, especially considering they were created by a team of only about 80 people.

That seems almost impossible considering the hundreds, sometimes thousands, involved in other games that look half as good, and while the trade-off is that the games last less than eight hours, that's still an achievement that Microsoft should reward and expand.

Whatever you think of Hellblade, the lack of promotion for the sequel was very noticeable, but a report came out Windows Central claims that the studio is actually working on two titles: the previously announced one Project Mara and another brand new game.

Project Mara was first mentioned in 2020, two years after Microsoft bought Ninja Theory, but it's never been made clear what it is, with only vague talk of “new ways of storytelling” and attempts “to visualize the horrors of the mind as as accurately and accurately as possible'. realistically possible'.

The implication is that it's some kind of horror game, but whatever it is, it seems to have the same photorealistic graphic style as Hellblade.

There's no word at all on what the unannounced game is, but presumably: “There are no plans to close the studio anytime soon.”

It seems possible that the third game is Hellblade 3, but unlike the first title, the sequel doesn't necessarily reference another game – although that doesn't mean it couldn't happen anyway.