Tameem Antoniades, a co-founder of Xbox’s Ninja Theory studio and writer and director of the imminent Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, has left the developer. As the first ever Xbox Series X game to be revealed, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 was announced alongside the unveiling of the Series X at the 2019 Game Awards and is the direct sequel of 2017’s hit cinematic adventure game, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice.
After several more gameplay showings at showcases and events over the past couple of years, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2‘s latest appearance at Xbox’s most recent Developer Direct in January finally gave the long awaited game its May 21 release date. The eight-minute Developer Direct deep dive also gave eager fans yet another glimpse of Hellblade 2‘s cinematically brutal combat and its top-of-class audio design. Next to Avowed and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Hellblade 2 is set to be one of Xbox’s biggest first party exclusive games coming this year.
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Hellblade 2 Confirms Highly Requested Feature For Launch
Ninja Theory confirms a fan-favorite feature from the previous title is returning in Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 when the game launches later in May.
Just a month and a half before the release of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, Xbox has confirmed that Ninja Theory’s co-founder and Chief Creative Director Tameem Antoniades has made his departure from the studio. Exactly when he left is unknown, but over his years with Ninja Theory, Antoniades was known for games like Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, Heavenly Sword, DmC: Devil May Cry, and, of course, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. In his absence, Hellblade 2 is being led to the finish line by Visual Effects Director Mark Slater-Tunstill, Environment Art Director Dan Attwell, and Audio Director David Garcia.
Co-Founder and Chief Creative Director Tameem Antoniades Has Left Ninja Theory
Whether Tameem Antoniades goes on to join another acclaimed studio in the future or start a development studio of his very own is unknown. If one thing is certain, it’s that he left behind a state-of-the-art motion capture stage at Ninja Theory, and that attempting to create a new game as cinematically rich as Hellblade 2 without it would be no easy task. As for the future of Ninja Theory, with Atwell, Slater-Tunstill, and Garcia taking over Hellblade 2, perhaps the trio may look to take the lead on the studio’s next venture, whether a third Hellblade installment or an entirely new IP.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is finally set to release on May 21, and it’ll be Xbox’s first major exclusive title of the year, with Avowed and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle set to follow up later in 2024. Judging by what’s been shown over the years since its 2019 unveiling, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is surely shaping up to be a visual feast for fans of cinematic action adventure games.
The sequel to the award winning Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Senua returns in a brutal journey of survival through the myth and torment of Viking Iceland. Intent on saving those who have fallen victim to the horrors of tyranny, Senua faces a battle of overcoming the darkness within and without.
A crafted experience of cinematic immersion: Sink deep into Senua’s world and story, with beautifully realized visuals and encapsulating sound.
Senua’s unique perspective: Experience the world through Senua’s eyes and ears, as a Celtic warrior who experiences psychosis.
A journey into Viking Iceland: An epic journey across 10th century Iceland, recreated from real locations in stunning detail.
Every fight tells a story: Brutal and visceral combat as Senua battles for survival.
- Platform(s)
- PC , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- May 21, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Ninja Theory
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
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