Ninja Theory’s sequel to the critically acclaimed Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 launches in five days. The game will release across Xbox Series X/S and PC and skip PS5, owing to the studio’s acquisition by Microsoft in 2018.
Thanks to the Xbox ownership, the game will also be available on the brand’s Game Pass subscription service at no cost on day one. Extremely cheap barrier of entry aside, there’s also another useful perk for the service’s Ultimate tier subscribers.
Why Hellblade 2 Will Only Be On Current-gen Hardware
Hellblade 2 is a very demanding game, as it’s been in development for 7 years to be a proper showcase of current-gen hardware. Photorealistic visuals, lifelike animations, highly detailed set pieces, and fastidious character detail (especially for Senua’s hair and costumes) are just some of the improvements on offer here.
For this reason, the sequel needs current-gen hardware and/or powerful gaming PCs. It’ll undoubtedly be a mountain of eye candy, as it’s locked to 30fps on consoles and requires an RTX 4080 to run at ultra settings on PC. However, hardware this powerful doesn’t come cheap, and there will unfortunately be some who can’t play Hellblade 2.
Cloud Gaming Allows You To Play On Nearly Any Device
Not to worry, though, because even without a Series X/S or a beefy 4080-equipped PC, there’s a way to experience the game on launch day. Those who subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate get access to Xbox Cloud Gaming, which allows players to stream games directly from Microsoft’s servers, eliminating the need for a high-end console or PC.
With Cloud Gaming, players can access Hellblade 2 on a plethora of devices, including PCs, mobile phones, Xbox One consoles, and even Samsung smart fridges. It’s a smart move, as it doesn’t compromise the game’s quality by having to target weaker hardware, while opening the door for a wider audience to experience the highly anticipated game.
While some may argue rightfully that the latency issues and always-online nature of cloud gaming could be counter-productive to a stress-free gameplay experience, the service has made significant strides in recent years and continues to improve over time, offering a much smoother and responsive experience for many titles.
For those who may not have the budget to upgrade their current hardware or simply prefer the on-the-go convenience of cloud gaming, Hellblade 2 on Xbox Cloud Gaming is the perfect opportunity to experience Senua’s next adventure.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is slated to release on 21 May 2024 across Xbox Series X/S and PC.
