When Hellblade 2 was first announced, people were excited, and rightfully so. The first game gave us a heartfelt story, amazing locations, and game mechanics that felt like a breath of fresh air. With a solid narrative that tied up all loose ends, many felt that would be the end of Senua’s journey.
Hellblade 2 was announced in 2019, but we got our first look at the title only in 2021. While its Xbox exclusivity did rub some fans the wrong way, others were hoping for a solid experience on current-gen consoles. However, recent news has wound them up too, as the sequel will not make use of the most sought-after feature: high FPS.
Hellblade 2 Developer Explains the Reasoning for the Low FPS Debacle
The title has been built from the ground up using Unreal Engine 5, and it is scheduled to hit Xbox Series X and S. Given the technological backing for this project, one would think the developers would spare no effort when it came to top-of-the line features. Unfortunately, it’s been confirmed that the game will be locked at 30 FPS on consoles.
In conversation with German publication GamePro, Mark Slater-Tunstill, VFX Director, stated the decision was made to offer a more “cinematic” experience to the player. One would think that with the technology we have available today, scenes can be dynamic and beautiful without sacrificing the frame rate. The game does not come with any graphics modes, but PC players will be able to tweak FPS settings.
One common theory for the locked 30 FPS is that it will be released on the less powerful Series S. The workaround could have been implemented by locking the FPS for the Series S and enabling a higher FPS for the Series X. Sadly, it appears the decision is final, and no hint was given if a future update might change the settings.
Thankfully, the Low FPS Doesn’t Affect the Hellblade 2 Experience
The interview with the publisher took place during a hands-on event at the Ninja Theory studio in Cambridge. After playing 45 minutes of the game, the initial impressions given are very good. Despite the lack of hype for the game, the report claims it has an atmosphere unlike any other, and the pacing of the game made sure the low FPS wasn’t an issue.
While the FPS is limited, the game has been described as a “tech showcase.” The realistic settings in the game were developed by taking scans of real Icelandic locations using a drone, after which the data was used in Unreal Engine 5.
Hellblade 2 is also going to follow a similar linear style as the first one. The voices are back as well, as the sequel takes place soon after the events of the first game. The atmosphere combined with the whispers creates an oppressive feeling, one that will work great given the themes of the game.
Ninja Theory may have caught some flak for their FPS issues, but they also appear to be confident that their upcoming release is going to deliver a stellar experience. Will you be picking it up at launch? Let us know below!
