Senua is the sequel to Hellblade II, but don't call it Hellblade III: it's a different game

During the Xbox Games Showcase 2026, Ninja Theory officially presented Senua, the new chapter in the series that continues the events narrated in Senua's Saga: Hellblade II. The game will arrive in 2027 and will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Steam, cloud gaming, and PlayStation 5, with debut availability on Game Pass supporting Xbox Play Anywhere.

The most obvious change concerns the name chosen by the studio. The project will not be called Hellblade III. According to the studio's head, Dom Matthews, this decision reflects a different approach to the game, which maintains narrative continuity and artistic identity compared to previous chapters but significantly expands the action-adventure component.

From a gameplay perspective, Senua will offer greater freedom of action and a more marked balance between combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving. Ninja Theory's stated goal is to provide a more complete experience, with a distribution of activities that is less unbalanced compared to the past.

The most important changes concern the combat system. Battles will retain the weight and brutality that have characterized the saga but will introduce a greater number of tactical options. The protagonist will be able to face multiple opponents simultaneously, leverage the verticality of the environments, and utilize environmental elements during battles.

The arsenal will also be richer. In addition to the traditional sword, Senua will be able to wield long axes, short axes, throwing weapons, torches, and other tools gathered on the battlefield. The trailer also shows the possibility of fighting with two weapons at the same time, a feature that further expands the available strategies.

A central role will be played by the Focus Abilities, powers related to the protagonist's unique perception of reality. These abilities will not only affect combat but also the exploration of environments and puzzle-solving, making them an overarching element of the entire experience.

Significant news also concerns the structure of the game world. While maintaining a linear narrative, Senua will offer an interconnected map about twice the size of Hellblade II. Players will be able to return to previously visited areas, access optional paths, and find hidden secrets linked to the protagonist's worldview. This is not an open world; the developers have been clear about that, but it is an approach that should motivate players to deeply explore the environments.

To support this new creative direction, the studio has concentrated all its workforce, consisting of 85 developers, on the project. According to Matthews, this is the first time in over twelve years that the entire team has worked exclusively on the same project. In this regard, he also confirmed that Project Mara is no longer in development.