Senua, Sequel to Hellblade 2, Revealed for 2027 Release

Xbox has announced Senua, a continuation of Ninja Theory’s Hellblade series. Once again starring the Celtic warrior Senua, it promises to beryllium a much gameplay-driven acquisition that expands connected the communicative foundations of the erstwhile 2 Hellblade games.

Revealed arsenic portion of the Xbox Games Showcase, Senua is acceptable to beryllium released successful 2027 connected Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PS5. The debut trailer volition nary uncertainty consciousness acquainted to fans of the series, with its grounded, earthy aesthetic and violent, strugglesome combat. It depicts Senua emerging from a unusual golden substance earlier trekking crossed a beauteous satellite afloat of unsafe enemies and eerie lights. As ever, Senua is accompanied by whispering voices – the manifestation of the psychosis from which she suffers.

Considering this is simply a continuation of Senua’ Saga, it’s absorbing that Ninja Theory has chosen to telephone it simply “Senua” alternatively than Hellblade 3. Discussing the determination arsenic portion of a caller interrogation posted to Xbox Wire, Ninja Theory’s workplace caput Dom Matthews said “The rubric of conscionable Senua truly reflects that this is thing caller and caller and different. It is simply a antithetic benignant of game.”

Eagle-eyed viewers volition announcement that Senua’s combat skills look to person been deepened, with the quality to propulsion weapons and onslaught from stealth. Compared to the comparatively stripped-back Hellblade games, Matthews explained that Senua has been designed to beryllium much of a full-fledged action-adventure game. It seems we tin expect much exploration, much puzzle solving, and much robust combat encounters.

“The cardinal operation for america has been ‘tactical choice’,” explained Matthews to Xbox Wire. “So arsenic a player, you tin spell into fights and you person options arsenic to however you attack that fight, however you prosecute successful that fight, adjacent whether you privation to instrumentality connected those enemies successful the archetypal place. Even successful today’s trailer, you spot Senua choosing to stealthily sneak up connected enemies truthful not to alert the others, arsenic opposed to wildly moving into the combat – which you could besides take to do. This is the benignant of prime we’re excited for players to person amusive with.”

Senua volition besides person entree to “Focus Abilities”, specified arsenic the reality-shattering accomplishment that tin beryllium seen successful the trailer. Matthews revealed that players tin usage these abilities “as and erstwhile they wish, crossed traversal, puzzle solving and combat.” For example, that shatter accomplishment volition unfastened up caller spaces successful the world, but it tin besides beryllium utilized to propulsion backmost enemies successful combat.

Despite this deeper combat system, though, Matthews noted that Senua is “not a combat-action game. People shouldn't expect that this is similar two-thirds combat. We're truly reasoning astir it arsenic being a reasonably adjacent divided betwixt combat, traversal, and puzzle solving.”

The Xbox Wire station provides a small much discourse connected the game’s size, which takes spot connected a representation “about doubly the size of what we had successful Hellblade 2”. There’s present much verticality, with much biology elements to interact with, helium promised. But portion the representation and the mode you interact with it has been pushed past the boundaries of Senua’s erstwhile adventures, those games’ much focused signifier inactive seemingly acts arsenic the bedrock of this caller journey. “To beryllium wide though, this isn’t an unfastened satellite game,” said Matthews. “It is simply a linear communicative told done a representation built of interconnected locations.”

This bigger satellite is Senua’s imaginativeness of purgatory, which has manifested arsenic her puerility homeland. Trapped betwixt beingness and death, Senua is connected a quest to beryllium reunited with the loved ones she has lost. But portion this is intelligibly connected to the communicative explored successful the Hellblade games, Senua has been designed arsenic thing of a standalone sequel.

“It’s each precise overmuch presented successful a mode that, if you haven't been determination [for the erstwhile games], past you're afloat going to recognize and get what's happening successful this title,” said Matthews.

This announcement confirms erstwhile rumours of a caller Hellblade that's much of a “game”. It besides proves that the bid was capable to defy the evident decease knell sounded by debased income and middling Game Pass show astatine launch.

For more, beryllium definite to cheque retired IGN's roundup of everything announced astatine Xbox Showcase 2027.

Matt Purslow is IGN's Executive Editor of Features.