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2024 Preview: Hellblade 2 could be Xbox’s most important exclusive | VGC

For Microsoft, all eyes (and ears) will be on Ninja Theory in 2024…

www.videogameschronicle.com

Its value to Xbox, then, cannot be understated. The first game was praised for its visual detail, its incredible use of sound and, most importantly, its impressive writing and character development. As a game that dealt with mental health, and psychosis specifically, developer Ninja Theory put in its due diligence to make sure it presented Senua's condition as authentically and respectfully as possible, and the result was a truly unique game that, fittingly, lingered in the mind long after the credits rolled.

It's easy to forget, though, that Hellblade was originally a PlayStation 4 console exclusive, and remained that way for eight months. As Xbox fans watched on at this brave, groundbreaking new IP picking up multiple awards for performance, audio design and writing, Hellblade was a valuable asset to PlayStation because it allowed fans to point to an exclusive that wasn't just a sequel or a remaster.

Now that Ninja Theory is part of Xbox Game Studios, that valuable asset now belongs to Microsoft, and now that the shoe is on the other foot, it's imperative that its exclusivity becomes as important to Xbox as its predecessor was to PlayStation. Xbox's plan is for those same PS4 fans who boasted about Hellblade's exclusivity to now be the ones watching on as its sequel becomes the game picking up multiple awards.

This is the most hyped game ever
The hype around Hellblade 2 is massive and growing

 

[kiphalfton]

They need to nix the crappy puzzles, and overhaul combat to put the game on the map in the way they're expecting.

 

[R3TRODYCE]

I thought Starfield was.

 

[RoboFu]

It’s the most hyped game ever? lol I don’t think so.

 

[jm89]

Another game of the generation?

 

[Perrott]

I thought Starfield was.

And Halo Infinite before it.

And Quantum Break.

And Rise of the Tomb Raider.

And Titanfall.

 

[Wandering Leopard]

It could be, sure but I don't think so, it's a niche title, like the equivalent of an art house movie.

 

[Gaiff]

Nope. It was Starfield and it didn't deliver.

Hellblade is more interested in being an art game with a commentary about mental illness than having good gameplay or being fun. It's basically a Naughty Dog game but without the good and visceral combat. Judging by the previews we've seen, the fighting will be every bit as bad as with the first one which was pretty awful.

Pretty game though.

 

[SJRB]

I always like these "it COULD be the most amazing thing since sliced bread" fluff articles.

 

[Mr Moose]

 

[havoc00]

Phil does it again!

 

[Mister Wolf]

In the sense that it will show what the Series X and UE5 is capable of. Avowed will be the better Microsoft exclusive.

 

[Woopah]

It is an exclusive. I don't see any argument for it being the most important one.

 

[Grildon Tundy]

THE CAPS IN THE TITLE REINFORCE JUST HOW IMPORTANT

 

[gothmog]

Lol. No.

 

[StereoVsn]

What, no. It’s a game that is going to “sell” to existing GamePass owners and won’t increase the number of console sales or GamePass subs.

 

[Moses85]

Like the power of the

?

 

[VolticArchangel]

WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING, OP?

YES, IT'S "ONE" OF THE IMPORTANT EXCLUSIVES FOR XBOX, NOT "THE MOST".

 

[Barakov]

I like the first Hellblade just fine but they would have to be making a completely different game for this level of hubris to be said.

 

[demigod]

Another game of the generation?

We are beyond that. This is the game of the millennium.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

It's being over hyped and people should not confuse good graphics and translate that to some wishful mass market success. I think if this game came out in 1997, it would fare better.

I hope it's better the first one because that game sucked but had great graphics for what it was doing.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

don't cry about the Xbox Tax once the game comes out as a disappointment.

 

[Krieger]

A walking simulator with a schizophrenic main character isn't important, at all. A new Crash Bandicoot, Tony Hawk's or Spyro, now that's important.

 

[Beer Baelly]

WE ARE LAUGHING

 

[SenkiDala]

I remember when that studio, Ninja Theory, were considered as little geniuses, developing only hidden gems : Enslaved, Heavenly Sword, DmC.

Hellblade was their pinacle, an immersive journey into the mind of a mentally troubled warrior. Visually breathtaking, great narration and plot, outstanding sound design, nice combats. As it was a PS4 exclusive.

Than it became a Microsoft Studio, then Hellblade became an overpraised piece of trash.

So yeah, people laughing at Hellblade II is too be expected.

 

[Red Crayon Aristocrat]

Why did Hellblade get a pass and a sequel but The Order 1886 was "burn the witch!"?

 

[Hayabusabruh]

They are going to have to do more with combat this time. I have a feeling it's just going to be bare bones. No upgrades or abilities. Just scripted animations for executions. I don't doubt everything else will be fine.

 

[rodrigolfp]

Could be, if not also released on PC.

And Quantum Break.

And Rise of the Tomb Raider.

And Titanfall.

Those 3 are some of the best games out there.

 

[Thanati]

They need to nix the crappy puzzles, and overhaul combat to put the game on the map in the way they're expecting.

This! I thought the first was really mediocre.

 

[Perrott]

Those 3 are some of the best games out there.

The first one flopped hard and the publishers of the other two deeply regret accepting those moneyhats.

So regardless of quality, none of them worked out the way any of the various parties involved had hoped they would... which was also the case for both Halo Infinite and Starfield, hence the comparison.

 

[rodrigolfp]

The first one flopped hard and the publishers of the other two deeply regret accepting those moneyhats.

So regardless of quality, none of them worked out the way any of the various parties involved had hoped they would... which was also the case for both Halo Infinite and Starfield, hence the comparison.

They worked out in quality. If people choose to not embrace that quality, their loss.

 

[Gaiff]

Hellblade was their pinacle, an immersive journey into the mind of a mentally troubled warrior. Visually breathtaking, great narration and plot, outstanding sound design, nice combats. As it was a PS4 exclusive.

Nice try sliding this one in but no one ever thought that. It was considered good in spite of its combat, not in part because of it.

 

[Horseganador]

Because they insist on putting such responsibility on a game that, although it will surely be good, is not going to move the needle at all, it is absurd and every year it is your turn.

 

[Perrott]

Why did Hellblade get a pass and a sequel but The Order 1886 was "burn the witch!"?

Because back when The Order came out, we hadn't yet gone through the era of open world fatigue, so any package that just offered the classic structure of a 7-8 hours campaign without any filler content or a bunch of shitty PvP modes was seen as a rip off... which was such a stupid mindset for gamers and reviewers to have at the time.

If anything, now that they made very clear what their stance was on these sort of things, they shouldn't be hypocrites and give Hellblade II praise for being exactly what they critized back then.

My perspective on it? The Order was a good game and Hellblade II will greatly deliver on what it's set itself out to achieve, and both of them are perfectly valid forms of interactive entertainment, just as Quantic Dream's games are as well.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Why did Hellblade get a pass and a sequel but The Order 1886 was "burn the witch!"?

one was backed by Sony and the other one was an experiment by an indie studio

 

[Hrk69]

Nah this ain't it lol

 

[Deerock71]

I thought Starfield was.

Yup. I would not be hanging my hat on a game that started out as an indie game with AAA ideals.

 

[mitch1971]

Maybe it's important because the others have been disapointing.

 

[Unrivaledx88]

lol Xbox stay getting chances , always the next game….

 

[Saber]

I thought Starfield was.

Was about to say the same thing.

 

[M1987]

I can't see it selling a lot

 

[StealthGoblin]

It's not going to move the needle. It will likely win some awards but it won't:

- be a system seller
- be a standout game of the generation when we look back
- have more hype or expectation than Starfield (and that's a good thing).

 

[nial]

I remember when that studio, Ninja Theory, were considered as little geniuses

For Donte May Cry?

 

[captainpat]

I feel like Stalker 2 would be more important.

 

[3liteDragon]

First it was Starfield, now it's Hellblade 2 & then it'll be every upcoming Xbox first-party game for the rest of the gen lol.

 

[{insert code here}]

Why did Hellblade get a pass and a sequel but The Order 1886 was "burn the witch!"?

Generic straight white male lead vs strong independent woman lead. Need I say more?

 

[Dice]

lol people acting like hellblade was important to the industry

 

[killatopak]

I heard this before.

 

[demigod]

Next up, wait for CES.

 

[Vroadstar]