Hellblade 2: everything we know about Senua’s Saga

• March 3, 2023

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is scheduled to release in May this year, four years since the first game’s release. The most recent trailer offered us a long-awaited release date, marking our calendars for May 21 to be specific, while also giving us a deeper insight into what we can expect from the game. However, the previous trailer at The Game Awards offered a fair amount of content to help build upon what we’ve already seen. 

So, between character design and the setting of the game, and now a release date, we’ve got a lot to explore. From what’s been shown so far, Hellblade 2 looks like it could have a good chance of landing on our list of the best Xbox Series X games when it launches.

Here’s everything we know about Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, including a look at all of the latest news and trailers. As new details come to light, this page will be updated.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2: cut to the chase

• What is it? The sequel to 2017’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
• When can I play it? May 21, 2024
• What can I play it on? Xbox Series X|S and PC 

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 release date and platforms

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will be released on May 21, 2024. We can expect this game to launch on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC as announced during the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2023. 

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 trailers

The most recent update we’ve had on Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II was shown as part of the Xbox Direct. Rather than being an in-game trailer, we got a general overview of the game, including a look at combat, how immersion has been considered, and a look at the musical composition of the game. Toward the end of this overview, we finally got a release date, marking May 21 as when we can expect Hellblade 2 to launch. The full presentation can be seen below:

Prior to this, the most recent trailer we had for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II was shown at The Game Awards. The trailer includes a deeper insight into in-game content and spotlights the phenomenal graphics we can expect from the experience. The trailer closes by reminding us that the game is set to launch in 2024 but offers no specifics. The full trailer can be seen below:

The Xbox Games Showcase trailer offers another look at the setting of the game alongside a release window of 2024. For a four-minute trailer, not a whole lot of insight into gameplay is provided, but alongside some incredibly immersive 3D audio and some breathtaking graphics, Hellblade 2 is shaping up to be a strong contender for one of the best Xbox games. 

Prior to the Xbox Games Showcase in 2023, the previous trailer released for Hellblade 2 was a Dev Diary that documented how Ninja Theory worked around the pandemic and location restrictions to ensure it portrays the game’s location in Iceland in the most authentic way possible.

We’ve scattered a few extra trailers for Hellblade 2 throughout this article, but for more videos, be sure to check out Ninja Theory’s official YouTube channel. 

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 story and setting

The first Hellblade saw Senua journey to find her dead lover’s soul. Venturing to the fires of Helheim, she fought against all the odds and even the goddess of death herself, Hella. 

While the main story focused on action-adventure Hellblade also saw more mature themes woven through the narrative. Filled with psychological struggles, Senua slowly comes to terms with everything that has happened to her. 

We hope that Hellblade 2 will carry on this thought-provoking journey, but as of yet, there are no solid storylines confirmed for this much-anticipated sequel. Even following a more immersive look at the setting of Hellblade 2 through the Xbox Games Showcase, there’s still very little we know about the story and setting. 

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 gameplay

In this six-minute gameplay trailer shown at The Game Awards 2021, we saw Senua and a group of warriors travel to a cold and wet coastal cave. Scattered with bones and debris, you instantly know that there is something wrong. 

Similarly to the first game, your thoughts doubt you, as every action you take is met with quiet whispers of dread and discomfort. But after a short set-up, we can finally see what Senua came here to find and kill; a giant. 

The fight ensues with the giant chasing Senua, calling her name, and eating her fellow soldiers. The entire sequence is heart-racing and beautifully scripted. If this is anything to go off of, then, Hellblade 2 looks like it’s going to be a memorable sequel.

In the most recent trailer, we see Senua travel through a dank cave, being ominously guided by a few voices. After pondering her reflection, she’s pulled below the surface which is where the trailer ends. So, similarly to the first trailer, we aren’t shown a huge amount of gameplay or environment to keep up the mystery.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 news

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will release in May, according to Xbox Direct overview
A release date has been confirmed for Hellblade 2 marking our calendars for May 21. As part of the announcement, we also get a deeper look at how the game has been constructed, including a look at the musical composition, combat, and how Senua has been brought to lift. 

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 receives another trailer at The Game Awards
Another trailer has been shown for Hellblade 2, offering a further insight into what we can expect from in-game content. However, we didn’t get an update on the release date of the game, only a reminder that it is currently slated for a 2024 release. 

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 finally receives a release window
At long last, Hellblade 2 finally has a release window following an all-new trailer at the Xbox Games Showcase. But, rather than having a concrete release date, we have been given a pretty vague window of 2024. 

Senua’s character model is incredibly detailed
Developer Ninja Theory has shared two images showing a close-up of Senua’s character model, and they’re unbelievably detailed. From the snot running out of Senua’s nose to the creases of her lips, Ninja Theory is definitely not messing around when it comes to the little details that make Senua look truly realistic. 

The developer cites its development of skin and eye materials using studio references for its ability to make Senua look life-like. It’s certainly got us excited to see more of Hellblade 2, and Senua, in action.

No tricks here
Following the gameplay reveal of Hellblade 2, Ninja Theory Audio Director David García took to Twitter to provide some details about the trailer’s audio. According to García, the gameplay trailer was entirely captured in-engine in real-time and “almost all” of the footage’s 3D sounds use Project Acoustics and spatial audio.

Project Acoustics is Microsoft‘s wave acoustics engine for 3D interactive experiences. Essentially, it allows for realistic acoustics to be introduced into 3D environments. Spatial audio, meanwhile, is an immersive sound that comes from (or seems to) all angles.

Running on Unreal Engine 5
Microsoft has confirmed that Hellblade 2 will use Unreal Engine 5 in an official Xbox Wire post. 

According to Xbox, “The team will be building the game on Unreal 5 and leveraging the power of Xbox Series X to bring the Hellblade franchise to levels never before seen.” They added that the footage of the game shown during The Game Awards in 2019 “was captured in-engine and reflects the power of Xbox Series X available to developers to deliver new universes, experiences and games in ways you have never imagined.”

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Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is scheduled to release in May this year, four years since the first game’s release. The most recent trailer offered us a long-awaited release date, marking our calendars for May 21 to be specific, while also giving us a deeper insight into what we can expect…