Ninja Theory, the studio behind Senua’s Saga: Hellblade, is a one-of-a-kind studio with a bold blend of AAA polish and indie spirit. With the impending release of Hellblade 2, the spotlight again turns to this innovative indie studio and its unique approach to game creation.
A recent interview conducted at the studio’s headquarters gives us more info on some of the upcoming title’s behind-the-scenes aspects, as well as the team’s approach to it, this time around.
Ninja Theory Takes Pride In Its Indie Spirit Ahead of Hellblade 2 Release
In a recent interview with Games Radar, various members of Ninja Theory spoke about the studio’s philosophy and the journey behind the highly anticipated Hellblade sequel.
This is the studio’s first project fully immersed in the Xbox ecosystem since being acquired by Microsoft Gaming six years ago. Despite being backed by a huge company, it seems committed to maintaining its identity while doing things that weren’t possible in the first game.
Studio head Dominic Matthews stressed the studio’s unique approach to game creation, calling it an “independent AAA” model and describing it as:
AAA production values with independent creative risk-taking.
With a core team of around 80 members, the upcoming title is a significant leap in scale compared to its predecessor.
However, Matthews humorously likened his studio to a boutique. He drew parallels to independent filmmaking, saying that the sequel is not like a Hollywood blockbuster, but a quality independent film.
Hellblade’s Sequel Will Shake Things Up
As Games Radar reminds us, it’s been seven long years since players followed Senua through her first journey while exploring themes related to psychosis and Norse mythology.
When writing its sequel, Ninja Theory debated the best way to evolve Senua’s character without diminishing anything she’s gone through up until now.
According to principal production director Lara Derham, the sequel starts with Senua accepting her psychosis, stating, “We’re not walking back from that.”
Melina Juergens, the performer behind Senua, also chimes in, talking about the importance of portraying the protagonist’s journey with respect:
I didn’t want Senua to come across like she has overcome all of her challenges, that she’s now cured. People who experience psychosis might never recover from it. But I wanted Senua to come across as being more in control of those visions and voices.
The studio is experimenting with some major changes in the game to achieve better realism, immersion, and minimalism, but it won’t stray far from the essence of the series.
Environmental art director Dan Attwell explained the studio’s deliberate choices in creating a seamless, HUD-free experience. Plus, the permadeath mechanic has been removed.
With Hellblade 2‘s release approaching, are you excited for the next chapter of Senua’s journey? What feature are you hoping makes a return from the first game? Let us know in the comments below!
