Senua's Saga: Hellblade II Trailer Shows Stunning Facial Animation

At GDC 2023, a new Senua's Saga: Hellblade II trailer shared by Ninja Theory showcased stunning facial animation powered by UE5 and Metahuman.

[PrinceOfAnger]

That's Crazy! release date when?

[Terry_B]

2024? 2025?

[blackblades]

Na it's a tech demo its never coming out

[Lightning77]

Late 2023 I suspect

[Mr Pumblechook]

That's incredible facial animation. If the in-game graphics, gameplay, combat and story all match that high standard it then I can see the potential for this truly being Hellblade II: Ragnarok Killer.

[GotGame818]

No, it will be this year maybe early next. An 8 minute gameplay video was just released, and it looks insane!

[tombfan]

@GotGame... the 8 minute gameplay is from last year and it was visually stunning, but nothing more. Scripted as hell and no "real" gameplay.

[Alexious]

I hope late November 2023.

[sammarshall102]

These cutscene visuals are on point but in-game won't look like this

[Lightning77]

The second cut was in game lol

[sammarshall102]

@Lighting77 I'm talking about during gameplay, her face wont be that detailed

[CrimsonWing69]

Have you watched their gameplay demo? It doesn’t sound like you have.

[sammarshall102]

@CrimsonWing69 Yes I have actually and her face doesn't look as good as it does here

Watch the part in the gameplay trailer at the end where she's realizing that she knows the giant

[Obscure_Observer]

Crazy indeed! Looks Awesome! This is nothing but true current gen work.

And we heard from some morons that Xbox Series S is holding the generation back. XD

We also heard from some bs by the same people on how new acquired studios by Microsoft would get worse under Xbox Game Studios.

Crow dinner is served!

[Jared2500]

Series S won't hold the current gen back. Better graphics is an evolutionary change-- it's relatively easy for developers to load lower res textures and turn down the draw distance, lighting effects, etc. for the Series S. Introducing SSDs is the true revolutionary change that defines the generation. The Series S and X both use the same type of SSD. The Series S is no slouch and will perform just fine at 1080p.

[Obscure_Observer]

@Jared2500

"Series S won't hold the current gen back. Better graphics is an evolutionary change-- it's relatively easy for developers to load lower res textures and turn down the draw distance, lighting effects, etc. for the Series S."

Exactly! I don´t know how hard is for those fanboys to understand that Xbox Series X is and will be the lead platform for games development and the Series S versions of said games will only get ports from it. Smdh.

[Jin_Sakai]

“Crazy indeed! Looks Awesome! This is nothing but true current gen work.”

“Crow dinner is served!”

It’s literally just a face. Let me know when we see new gameplay in action and this kind of detailed facial expression.

[Ashunderfire86]

Where are the comparable games for Xbox Series? It’s taking way too long, and PS5 is wiping the floor with game tidal waves 🌊 after waves 🌊 Spiderman 2 will be a juggernaut 💥

[Sonic1881]

This has to be the PC version with a 2025 release date :)

[LOGICWINS]

Brilliant, but we need a release date!

[Flawlessmic]

This looks UNREAL!!

Hopefully the gameplay backs up the graphics, and release date would be fantastic.

[Flawlessmic]

i mean we will find out soon enough, i hope it does though.

i thought the same thing about ratchet and clank, then you play it and its just like wowwww, still the best looking game this gen in my opinion

I'm not about that console war life, hoping stuff on the other side doesn't look good.

i enjoy all games so yea, i hope it looks this good and plays even better, that would be exciting as hell.

[Hereandthere]

It's Unreal Engine 5 tech, big whoop.

[mkis007]

Ya I think people overlook just how impressive that engine is platform be damned.

[Godmars290]

You overlook that the original wasn't a AAA production. That it was almost Ninja Theory's last game.

[mkis007]

I'm not sure what you are trying to say? Yes it was impressive. Yes this is impressive looking too. That said the original didnt have much going on as far as gameplay goes. It was a self contained linear story. Didnt exactly allow them to show anything else off besides their budgeting.

[Minute Man 721]

But when U5 was 1st debuted on the PS5 this site went crazy 😆 🤣

[Tacoboto]

"Xbox can't handle UE5, SSD too slow"
Also Xbox: *nearly every non-Bethesda studio on UE5*

[outsider1624]

But the Engine is pretty incredible though. Imagine games using this engine. Oh man...

[bunt-custardly]

Does anyone remember the Dark Sorcerer demo from E3 2014.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[mkis007]

ruunning on a ps4 to boot

[IanTH]

Yes! It was crazy impressive at the time, and would be amazing even today if a game actually game out and looked like that during gameplay.

That said, it's also why I take these tech demos with the largest grain of salt. They look great, as does the Senua one. But it really doesn't mean anything, in any fashion, for what the game will ultimately look like. It's cool, but that's kinda it.

[Zhipp]

To be fair virtually every game Sony has put out since Uncharted 4 has matched or surpassed that demo.

For UE5 we've seen legitimate gameplay from the matrix demo and the earlier footage of hellblade II that show these visuals are actually achievable in an actual videogame so I'm pretty optimistic.

[jznrpg]

You played TLOU2 Forbidden West , Demons Souls PS5 , Ratchet and Clank ps5 ? Those games look amazing and aren’t just tech demos

[IanTH]

@jznrpg

Sure, I've played all of those. I said it would be impressive even today if a game looked like that during gameplay. I didn't say no other game even looks this good, even today.

@zhipp

Lots of games look great, and graphics wise I'd say you're right. There's still something about these that I think look a bit more impressive - sometimes - from an animation point of view. Which I think is easier to do when you only have to focus on a few minutes of animation rather than a whole game.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Dayuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum that is 🔥

[IamTylerDurden1]

Just like the trailer in 2019 and 2021 when it hadn't even started full development. Tired of tech updates for a game that barely exists. This is almost entirely what MS has done this whole generation. Announce games that haven't even started development bc they simply have very little to show otherwise. Ppl praise Phil but the game management is concerning when numerous studios/titles are in limbo. From Undead, The Initiative, 343, Rare with Everwild, Starfield/Redfall delays, Fable, HB2, Outer Worlds 2 ridiculous announcements, to games gone dormant ie Avowed. Compulsion been silent. What is going on with XB studios? Look at when HB2 was announced and the lack of output over that time from MS. Ppl say these studios need time, Ninja T has had 4 yrs since they announced the game and everyone brags about the resources MS has yet they'd rather their new gen system rot for 3 yrs with hardly any exclusives than actually plan/partner on third party projects to fill the gap. But they got The Gunk and it's a forever console exclusive, they do minor timed deals all the time. It's not a moral decision to omit quality 3rd party aaa it's poor management. Gamepass is great but ppl also want quality exclusives and with lack of 1st party output combined with lack of third party aaa it becomes an exclusives ghost town at a time when ppl look for these games to distinguish and support their new console. Hence why launch lineups are so important, ppl want to play games they can't get elsewhere, they want to see what the hardware can do, they want to feel like their new console purchase is justified and MS absolutely dropped the ball and continues to echo the same wait til next yr sentiment. They plan a new console several years in advance, if u don't have exclusives for the first few years of that launch it's just bad management especially when u have more money than god. Tired of empty game announcements, acquisitions, n tech demos...release some f****** games. Don't tell me about the future when u stiff me in the present. I bought an XB Series, i have GP, i'm not just talking crap. So miss me with the tech demo. Miss me with "in engine". Hit me with a 2023 release date bc 2022 was a release yr jk in terms of exclusive output and Starfield was a motivating factor for me to reup last yr. HB2 put a lot of ppl on the XBSX hype train in 2019. If exclusive games were releasing consistently i would excuse these early announcemens, but not when it's your entire foundation. Gamepass doesn't excuse everything. Idc if i get hate, i invested in the ecosystem and i'll speak my mind. Teedurden1, see me there.

[darthv72]

......wall...of...text

[thesoftware730]

Damn, I would read all of that but learn to use smaller paragraphs on here, walls of text look exhausting to read.

[Gamer_Dude]

Didn't read

[Ashunderfire86]

I read through your wall of text and I got to say I agree! Especially when you got Spiderman 2 rumored to come this September to crush Starfield Xbox exclusive!!!! You know anything Spiderman will bring in those big numbers!!! And when they drop a trailer for Wolverine dang!!!! A tidal wave 🌊

[InUrFoxHole]

That's a lot to type. Next time just say... Hey guys! I'm wrong.

[IamTylerDurden1]

darth barely plays games. U cap for xb and i play it more than u. Dispute the content of what i said otherwise u read like a child on Twitter. Tired of empty attacks over intelligent debate.

[The3faces]

Definitely gonna be a Stunner 🔥

[IamTylerDurden1]

Especially if mid gen upgrades are ready by release which is weird to think about considering HB2 was announced and shown a yr before this gen even started. That's a problem, i'm done fawning over tech demos after 4 years and yall should be as well. The HB2, Fable, TES6, Outer Worlds 2, Everwild, Perfect Dark, SoD3 announcements were all hollow and leading. They've gotten enough buzz without actually earning it. Starfield had a similar trajectory, Avowed is following suit, Halo did the same. It's the entire XB foundation bar Forza/Gears. They operate like Kickstartrer, announcing a concept. If they released games consistently i could understand but this isn't a Wolverine situation. Insomniac by themselves has released more AAA exclusives this gen than the entirerty of XB studios (MM, R&C, SM Re) plus Spidey 2 this yr, they're allowed to have one like Wolverine when they constantly pump great games.

[The3faces]

I remember Sony saying "We believe in generations" but Xbox are the one's ushering in current gen with Redfall, Starfield and Hellblade so take your Salt elsewhere lol

[Gamer_Dude]

Are you Jim Ryan?

[Obscure_Observer]

@The3faces

"I remember Sony saying "We believe in generations" but Xbox are the one's ushering in current gen with Redfall, Starfield and Hellblade so take your Salt elsewhere lol"

And don´t forget Forza Motorsport. All true current gen games!

[derek]

@faces, you xbox fans should just settle for actual releases of any games. Lol. Having to make games for the series s to will tie xbox to last gen indefinitely. Lol

[Crows90]

@thefaces

Aren't all those games releasing on a last gen powered machine? Series s has Les tflops than the one x lol

[DOMination-]

It's funny because only Spiderman 2 and Ratchet & Clank are Sony developed PS5 exclusives off the top of my head, and they both came from the same studio. Naturally, I don't count Returnal or Demon's Souls because they weren't part of PlayStation Studios at the time of release.

Other than Wolverine, do Sony even have any other announced PS5 exclusives?

Insomniac have really bailed them out so far. What an incredible studio they are.

[cthulhucultist]

@The3faces:

There is no need for such a comment - igniting the fanboy flame without merit in an article about an Xbox game.

In addition it was Sony who kicked off next gen with games like Rachet and Clank and Demon Souls remake (true next gen exclusives) next to cross gen games.

Even their cross gen games look stunning by any standard (give credit where credit is due)

[Charlieboy333]

And Returnal

[bangoskank]

Miss watching her act. She was amazing in the first game. Really looking forward to her performance in this.

[Crows90]

Right on. That's why I'm waiting anxiously for an actual gameplay trailer.

[cooperdnizzle]

I think she is not a very good actor seems forced and over the top. Almost cringe if you ask me.

[Ashunderfire86]

I disagree she is great and add some much to the game as the centerpiece.

[bangoskank]

On the contrary, I think she is a natural. She's not even an actress and conveyed the character's grief impeccably. If it seemed over the top to you it's because the characters suffers from extreme mental illness or because you're not able to gauge emotion.

[jznrpg]

She’s not bad voice wise and the animation looks good but she overdoes it’s with the facial movements

[Godmars290]

Game engine, an Unreal 5 demo, but not actual "in-game" or the actual engine the game will use.

[Obscure_Observer]

"Game engine, an Unreal 5 demo, but not actual "in-game" or the actual engine the game will use."

The game will be powered by UE5, dude. At leadt do you homework before spread FUD nonsense!

[Godmars290]

And still, the actual game has yet to be shown.

[Obscure_Observer]

"And still, the actual game has yet to be shown."

You´re trying too hard today, dude. Just give it a rest, you don´t know sh!t about this game.

Early gameplay from an old build has been on internet for more than a year.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[Godmars290]

Yeh, keep telling yourself that...

[CrimsonWing69]

I like how you show a gameplay vid and the response is “keep telling yourself that,” like if it’s so unbelievable that the game could look like this.

I remember when people were saying The Order 1886 wasn’t going to look like the gameplay reveals… and uh, that was an earlier PS4 title no less.

[derek]

@obscure that looks great but it more of a cutscene than actual gameplay where you have 100% control of the character. They need to show actual extended gameplay sequences.

[Obscure_Observer]

@derek

"They need to show actual extended gameplay sequences."

Dude, if you can´t tell it was actual gameplay, then you had never played Hellblade in your life.

I would like and suggest you to do it ASAP.

[Crows90]

But that's barely gameplay. I'm definitely excited since I loved the first one...but please remove the Xbox fanboy glasses...it would benefit you greatly. Obviously we all want to see gameplay...not a small cutscenes with minor controlling whether in game or not.

[derek]

@Obscure, people want to see gameplay cutscene animations no longer cut it even if it blended well with "character on rails" segments, it's what everyone waits for when watching a trailer, you know combat etc. Spiderman 2 had a great trailer some time ago but people are expecting correctly to see actual gameplay the next time we see it. Why is NT hiding this game after that great cgi/cutscene trailer in 2019?

[Traecy]

That's fine but I want to see some new impressive gameplay.

[YourMommySpoils]

Haven't we seen this ages ago. Must be good, whatever these developers are smoking.

[P_Bomb]

*whistles* beauty!

[MADGameR]

Keep in mind, it's not gameplay. It's X Box's BS CGI hype. Let's see gameplay, then we'll talk/

[darthv72]

Im sure its much better now but this was what they were working with not long ago:
https://youtu.be/fukYzbthEV...

[Lightning77]

If 8th gen was able to pull off near photo realistic graphics why can't this gen?

Plus we've what it looks like in game already.

[bleedsoe9mm]

Next Gen right there

[Imalwaysright]

If that is in-game then Ninja Theory will once again take facial animations to a whole new level in the same exact way they did with Heavenly Sword in 2007.

[Crows90]

Oh yeah. It was awesome...too bad there's no second game...likely never will be since it was a PlayStation exclusive.

[GoodGuy09]

Oh God I feel like it's been 5 years since this game's reveal lol

[Spenok]

Relatively close. It's been 3.5 years.

[Flewid638]

Imagine every genre in gaming that you love with graphics like this.

[IamTylerDurden1]

Tired of this. HB2 has garnered so much hype based on mere tech demos and has strung us along for 4 yrs while only recently starting full development. It was announced in 2019 at TGA and used as an XBSX hype vehicle. Ppl speculated if it would be a launch title, they convinced everyone in 2019 that "in engine" somehow meant that XBSX games would actually look like that. That the in engine cinematics were a reflection of real time in-game(play) visuals. Worse, ppl thought the gameplay shown a yr or two ago was a section of developed game, it was a vertical slice created entirely for the showcase. Now they won't even give a launch year let alone window but continue to garner hype based on tech. Ppl killed Sony for 3rd party announcements like FFVII and Shenmue the better part of a decade ago while Sony was consistently pumping out quality exclusives. MS has been historically inept this gen in terms of output and is living off hype for games that were announced yrs ago yet they get a pass? Everwild, HB2, Outer Worlds 2, State of Decay 3, Perfect Dark, Fable, Starfield, TES6, Avowed, even Redfall was delayed. Not to say other pubs are innocent but it's gotten out of hand with MS yet ppl still buy into the hype. By now ppl expect a real gameplay trailer from the actual game and a release date. I'm tired of tech updates only, it's not UE5, this is a game that was announced a yr before XBSX even released. Wtf.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

😭

[Obscure_Observer]

Cry all you wanna. MS will not rush Xbox first party games to appease "concerned" people.

Ninja Theory is not longer a indie studio, they´re now AAA developers working on AAA games, Just like Arkane and Bethesda, XGS will allow it´s developers to take the time they need to deliver the best possible games they can deliver.

[Stanjara]

See you at Starfield 16x the bugs.

[CrimsonWing69]

What happened to Halo Infinite?

[Obscure_Observer]

@CrimsonWing69

"What happened to Halo Infinite?"

MS heard the fans over the Craig gameplay fiasco, fired its former director, brought back vet and fan favorite Joseph Staten and gave the guy almost an year to fix things up.

The result? 87 on Metacritic in less than an year with Staten steering the ship´s wheel.

That´s what you get when you don´t rush things and don´t enforce pressure over developers.

[Crows90]

Holy cow man. You really don't care about these games do you? Guarantee you that would be all over a game from Sony if it was pulling the same stunts.

As far as the result of halo infinite....yeah nope. 87 metacritic which was heavily based on a good multiplayer experience, which it wasn't, and the promises of additional content and features....of which there's barely any and even some removed completely. The fact you're satisfied with halo infinite shows that you play the console war game and don't actually care about these games.

[Obscure_Observer]

@Crows90

"The fact you're satisfied with halo infinite shows that you play the console war game and don't actually care about these games."

In fact I do and you certainly is not the person I would discuss Halo in depth, because of all the dumb and ignorant sh!t you say about a game that you know nothing about!

Echoes Within just got released and the Halo community is in love with it! So you can GTFO with your lying BS! I won´t entertain your fake PS fanboy concern garbage any longer.

We´re done here

[jwillj2k4]

AAA is subjective this doesn't look any better than the Dark Sorcerer on PS4.

[CrimsonWing69]

Wait, so I’m confused because didn’t Bonnie Ross literally leave 343 due to the mishandling of Infinite and the backlash?

I’m not trying to go to war with you or anything, but 343i did such a bad job with Infinite that they aren’t getting to develop another one:

https://www.gamespot.com/am...

Then you have former 343i staff saying there was terrible leadership and Infinite was set up for failure:

https://www.windowscentral....

So forgive me if I think you’re wrong about Infinite and Microsoft’s whole, “allowing its developers to take the time they need to deliver the best possible games they can deliver,” because clearly that’s not the case with Infinite.

That game’s a train wreck and they even had to cancel things they promised well into the game’s release. So, I don’t think that’s Microsoft giving developers all the time they need to deliver the best possible game.

[IamTylerDurden1]

So don't announce years before u start development. They do it all the time bc they've had so few games that are close. MS has basically been announcing games like a Kickstarter yet u lot killed Sony for third party announcements like FFVII and Shenmue. And u really think HB2 has as few ppl on it as the first game? The studio is probably about the size of Housemarque who announced and released a highly regarded aaa and have been in development on a new IP in less time than HB2 has even been announced.

The issue isn't rushing games it's releasing them. Something MS has done very little of this gen. Poor planning, poor management. Yeah, i am concerned with the fact that i reupped GP in 2022 on the promise of games like Starfield n Redfall. It's concerning to me bc i like new exclusives. I own PS5/PS+ as well as xb/gp so i do look for exclusives to distinguish the experience and ms simply hasn't delivered and quite frankly the way the often announce these games is annoying when u aren't consistently supplying exclusives in the meantime.

[Lightning77]

"HB2 has garnered so much hype based on mere tech demos and has strung us along for 4 yrs while only recently starting full development. "

Except there is in game footage out there.

"It was announced in 2019 at TGA and used as an XBSX hype vehicle. Ppl speculated if it would be a launch title, they convinced everyone in 2019 that "in engine" somehow meant that XBSX games would actually look like that."

Nobody suspected to be a launch title especially if all they showed was a CG trailer.

I said this up top but if 8th gen was able to pull off near photo realistic graphics or CG graphics, why the hell can't 9th gen consoles do it? Specifically Xbox? Your next thing is because of the S some how.

"Now they won't even give a launch year let alone window but continue to garner hype based on tech."

The Xbox showcase will show allot more of the game and hopefully a release date.

"I'm tired of tech updates only, it's not UE5, this is a game that was announced a yr before XBSX even released. Wtf."

New tech and engines are made even before consoles release. You think consoles release and epic just says "oh we forgot to make a brand Unreal engine that'll take advantage of the consoles. let's build one real quick." Not how it works.

[cooperdnizzle]

Dude you really need to learn how to write if you are gonna post so much.

Beginning, paragraph middle and end. with the middle paragraph being the main part of what you are trying to say and the last paragraph wrapping up and condensing the points you were trying to make. You can have as many paragraphs as you want, but don’t just do a wall of txt.

I think you will get a lot more people that actually read what you have to say. Sorry I’ve just noticed you posting past couple of days and I think might help.

[Babadook7]

This looks good. I think the innovation put to lens simulation will pay off.

[Einhander1971]

Amazing tech 👏

[Reaper22_]

Visually stunning. Can't wait to play this on my series x. Microsoft was smart to buy NT.

[Reaper22_]

Visually stunning. Can't wait to play this on the series x. Microsoft was smart to buy NT.

[Flakegriffin]

Looks amazing!

[GotGame818]

Just watched an extended gameplay demo! It looks absolutely insane!

[Obscure_Observer]

Got a source?

Nevermind. I saw it, it´s just the new unreal demo and the old gameplay trailer mashed together.

[GotGame818]

Yes YouTube!

[GotGame818]

It was released 5 hours ago, and no it isn't an Unreal Demo! The first minute is the tech demo, and then it shows actual gameplay! It literally says "extended gameplay trailer"

https://m.youtube.com/watch...

[darkrider]

Well that's not the reality. There already side by side with the same trailer and it's clearly a downgrade. Go see the comparison....

It's not even close... And the older is made with unreal engine 4. There more stuff on the last trailer then this, the lightning, the fire, the effects.... And that trailer was also in-game engine...

[darthv72]

...downgrade....

[*laughs in UE5 4K@60fps]

keep telling yourself that rider.

[darkrider]

I saw the comparison side by side. Did you see it... And listen to what they were saying.

[GotGame818]

This is an extended gameplay trailer, and it was released 5 hours ago! Looks incredible!

https://m.youtube.com/watch...

[Erictheking]

Looks great. Definitely one to play with headphones .

[rippermcrip]

That "gameplay" (if that is what one can even call it) is the same from last year.

[GotGame818]

Please provide a link dated a year ago showing this footage. Seriously I would like to see it.

I follow all things gaming, and not sure how I wouldn't have seen it.

[GotGame818]

I found it! How I missed it I don't know. Sorry, and thank you. Still looks amazing.

[The3faces]

@Obscure_Observer
Most definitely Forza Motorsport and Stalker 2 as well. True current gen only games that look incredible!

[Ninver]

Not in-game graphics. Borderline cgi.

[derek]

Show a slice of actual gameplay please.

[Crows90]

Ummm..so when do we actually see the game?

[Spenok]

Looks amazing, too bad the game won't look this good.

[YodaCracker]

It looks great, but I’m definitely feeling some uncanny valley.

[BandarHub]

I am looking more forward to Project Mara, hopefully it does take as long as Hellblade. I think this tech works well for Horror games.

[Binarycode]

First game was garbage. This one will be as well.

[repsahj]

The first one I just ok for me, but who knows, maybe this game will be miles better.

[Ninver]

Lol n4g is brutal I swear

[repsahj]

Wow Very impressive! The mouth movements are a bit exaggerated.

[Charal]

Will this game best ever released?

[darren_poolies]

There's absoultely no expression in the eyes and the actual facial animations are incredibly over the top, obviously they're doing it on purpose for the demo but it does nothing for me. Visually it looks fanatastic but it's not gonna look like this during gameplay so who cares?

[jznrpg]

Wasn’t there an article like this a year or 2 ago ?

[Anunnaki]

Pretty much any Unreal 5 game that uses Metahumans will look like this. What other UE5 games are coming soon?

[Tzuno]

Next year, another trailer with another amazing facial animation :)

[masterfox]

how about showing some gameplay instead , more than two years now and xbox havent released a single true next gen game.

[anast]

Game play...

[antikbaka]

show the game

[Chriswheeler22]

Almost feels like the new Dragonage game where they never show a trying of substance just tech demo this, art bullshit this etc.

[enkiduxiv]

Did you see those faces!? That’s like 10 times better than Elden Ring and Breath of the Wild. This game must be ten times better than those games!

Unless of course facial animation doesn’t really matter…