Ninja Theory has officially cancelled its experimental psychological horror project, Project Mara, as the studio shifts its full attention to the next entry in the Senua series.
The news was confirmed through a post on Xbox Wire, where Ninja Theory Studio Head Dom Matthews discussed the studio’s current direction and revealed that development on the previously announced horror title will not continue.
“And with the fact that we have the entire team working on this game, I suspect some people might ask what’s happened to Project Mara [a previously announced horror title] – I took the decision to not work on that any further. These decisions are never easy, but I did so to take the opportunity to have all of the talent and expertise in the studio, all 85 creatives, working together to realize the potential of what Senua can be.”
Project Mara was first unveiled as an experimental horror experience focused on delivering a realistic and grounded depiction of mental terror. The project was being developed by Ninja Theory and published by Xbox Game Studios, with plans to release on Xbox Series X/S and PC. The studio had previously described the game as being informed by real-world experiences and research into clinical neuroscience, with the goal of exploring psychological horror in a highly authentic way.
With the cancellation now confirmed, Ninja Theory’s entire development team will be dedicated to the next Senua title. The decision brings an end to one of Xbox’s most unusual and ambitious announced projects, allowing the studio to concentrate its resources on expanding the future of the Senua franchise.
