The founder of Ninja Theory has departed from the studio prior to the release of its upcoming action adventure game, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2.
Polgyon’s Oli Welsh has learned that Hellblade writer/director and Ninja Theory founder Tameem Antoniades is no longer with the studio, and that he was only involved with the development of Hellblade 2 in the early stages. It’s unknown whether this was due to creative differences between him and Microsoft. The game’s development is now led by environment art director Dan Attwell, visual effects director Mark Slater-Tunstill, and audio director David Garcia.
It is further mentioned that, besides the founder’s departure, a lot has changed for Ninja Theory since the it was acquired by Microsoft. While it hasn’t grown much in terms of workforce, the software giant’s investment is evident in the new office with a large, dedicated motion capture studio.
Dan Attwell stated that Unreal Engine 5’s Nanite technology has enabled the studio to deliver a high level of fidelity in Hellblade 2. In addition, he mentioned that the turnaround between scanning objects and putting them into levels is drastically cut as a result of working with the engine, and the saved time has been spent on polishing the visuals. “You can think more about the composition. And with the kind of lighting volumetrics we can now do, everything just beds in much better. It’s more believable,” Slater-Tunstill added. As per Attwell, the engine has removed many barriers for game artists. “It feels like the graphical leap that we’ve managed with this is like… We’re on the trajectory we wanted,” he said.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 serves as the sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice and is set to launch for Windows and Xbox Series X/S on May 21, 2024. The game retains the third-person action adventure format of its predecessor and further expands upon aspects like puzzle-solving with runes and exploration of Senua’s mental state. It introduces a new combat system that promises increased dynamism and realism. Additionally, the game delves further into Norse mythology and history, expanding on Senua’s background and connections.
