- Hellblade 2 has been in development for many years, with Xbox announcing a 2024 release window recently.
- The game has received a Mature 18+ rating from Australia, hinting at more violence and mature themes than before.
- This rating could mean that an exact release date will be revealed soon.
Nearly two years after the release of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Ninja Theory announced its sequel, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, during the Game Awards in 2019.
The game was part of Microsoft’s recent Xbox Showcase, with new gameplay highlighting a dark narrative and lifelike visuals. The Australian Rating Board has also alluded to these darker elements of the game, giving it a Mature rating.
Why it matters: A more mature rating could open up new opportunities, allowing Ninja Theory to explore new themes and portray characters in a light that would not have been possible with older restrictions.
As seen above, Hellblade 2 has received an R 18+ rating for high-impact violence. Though the rating board did not reveal much in this instance, R ratings are usually given to games for intense violence, graphic content, and more.
Since the Hellblade franchise is centered around psychological trauma, darker elements naturally make their way into the story. However, the sequel will likely present more mature themes.
Fans can, therefore, expect plenty of violence as Senua deals with her inner demons and other petrifying threats. Since the rating was issued last month, an exact release date could also be confirmed soon.
Typically, a rating can be considered an indication of a nearing release, but nothing has been officially confirmed yet.
Apart from Hellblade 2, Clockwork Revolution has received a similar rating. However, the latter was revealed earlier this year, so it is unlikely to be among the nearing Xbox first-party releases.
Hellblade 2 is supposedly playable from start to finish already. With the game arriving in 2024, it is expected to appear at The Game Awards 2023.
An insider has also pointed to new Xbox reveals at the event, and Senua’s upcoming adventure is a massive part of Xbox’s first-party lineup for next year. Therefore, an appearance on the big stage in December would be quite fitting for this game.
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[News Reporter]
Abiyan is on track to complete his Computer Science bachelor’s degree. His enthusiasm for writing and gaming motivates him to keep readers and gamers updated with the latest information from the industry. In his free time, Abiyan enjoys playing Dota 2 and Rocket League. Abiyan has also been cited in reputed websites such as Kitguru, Comicbook, GamingBible, Eurogamer and Gamingbolt.
