Ninja Theory has proven itself to be one of the top developers in gaming, and its subsequent Microsoft acquisition has gotten many fans curious.2017’sHellblade: Senua’s Sacrificebroke new ground with its life-like performances and apt depiction of depression, self-doubt, and anxiety.
The studio likely wants to up the ante forSenua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. There’s not much known about the game at this point in time, and it seems that the game may have fallen subject to two very recent trends in the games industry.
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The Norse Mythology Trends
Norse mythology is one with great depths, alongside some well-known deities such as the God of Thunder Thor. Many developers have just recently started realizing the potential within the myths, at least in terms of putting them in games, and it seems that more and more games are flocking to create worlds depicting such tales.2018’sGod of Warand 2020’sAssassin’s Creed Valhallaare two great examples, which have garnered great critical and commercial reception. The trend seems to keep going with the most recent being the recently releasedValheim.
Despite the great depths offered by the tales and deities within Norse mythology, many gamers have started to feel burnt out seeing many of the same faces and names over and over again. Ninja Theory certainly isn’t chasing trends but was rather one of the firsts with 2017’sHellblade: Senua Sacrifice. While there may be new locations and maps inSenua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, the basic framework would probably revolve around exploring more of Norse mythology alongside a more personal story for protagonist Senua.
The Great Silences
Another trend that many developers seemingly have settled down for is a quick tease about the game, followed by long stretches of silence. While this may not imply thatthe game in question is going through development hell, it could hurt a game’s reputation in the long run. Long stretches of silence give rise to a generous amount of rumors, which give more wind to speculation. Fan-hype might be great for a game’s marketing, but it can create unrealistic expectations which can hinder a game’s true potential as evidenced by the likes ofCyberpunk 2077.
There’s a lot of reasons whyNinja Theory chose to remain silent after the game’s 2019 announcement. In addition to possibly facing COVID-19 delays, the game has only really entered full production this January, after announcing to fans that there would be no future updates to the multiplayer-centricBleeding Edge. There’s also the Ninja Theory’s Insight Project, which might very well be a crucial factor in the game’s development. For now, the fanbase is already busy speculating about the game, formulating theories and wishlists about what they’d like to see in the sequel.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2is currently in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
