520°

Fans already plan to skip Senua's Saga Hellblade 2 due to digital-only release

It's still early days, but a digital-only release for Hellblade 2 already has fans up in arms.

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videogamer.com
-Foxtrot99d ago

Honestly just wait it out and eventually Microsoft will do a physical release. They’ll see how much they’ll get on release and do physical much later.

I’m still confident by the end of this year Remedy will do a physical version of Alan Wake II

BeHunted98d ago (Edited 98d ago )

Hellblade 2 will only cost $50. It will have a similar duration to the first game, around 8 hours.

98d ago
Sonic188197d ago

Hopefully not just a walking simulator

mkis00798d ago (Edited 98d ago )

Hellblade 2 limited run . Calling it.

Also its on gamepass just wait for the end of the year and play all 4 games in a month or 2. Thats $35? instead of $230?

Crows9097d ago

Or $0 with microsoft.rewards

Fist4achin97d ago

Limited run has pretty much stopped doing Xbox releases since they don't sell well.

Sonic188197d ago

I think most gamers will do that anyway

mkis00797d ago

Fist4achin

That was kind of my point. This would surely sell 5000 copies...so it would be a sure thing.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 97d ago
blackblades98d ago

All i know is those fan is all talk. Happened with Hogwarts and TLOU2 and even though its different situration both still went on to do good.

badz14997d ago

What are you talking about? This and the cases against Hogwarts Legacy and TLoU2 are totally different. The case similar to this is Alan Wake 2. See how that went? They struggle for sales even just to break even. And that was one of the best games released last year too.

BrainSyphoned98d ago

Maybe. If you take into account of 74% of Xbox owners being Series S owners that doesn't leave a lot of people that can and/or would use a disc.

NotoriousWhiz97d ago

Added to that, anyone playing on PC certainly isn't using a disc either.

crazyCoconuts97d ago

+ GamePass
+ This doesn't have the mainstream appeal that Indy Jones / Starfield has. Kinda more of a niche game I think

Ironmike97d ago

U going off facts from 2 yrs ago mt

RhinoGamer8897d ago

8 hours for $50 is not good math for me. :-(

Sonic188197d ago

I'm more curious about the review score than waiting for a physical release. I always thought that Hellblade was just a mediocre game to begin with. Hopefully it's a lot better than the first game.

darthv7297d ago

Yeah... im calling bullshit on this one. Its a videogamer piece so it is what it is.

If someone was a fan of the first, they will play the second. They know the first was digital only and this one also being digital wont stop them. If anything, this could get a disc a year later just like the first.

dumahim97d ago

"They know the first was digital only"
Is it? Could have fooled me.

https://m.media-amazon.com/...

isarai97d ago

I bought the 1st at launch physically wtf are you talking about?

darthv7297d ago

At both above... yes, the first game was digital only when it launched in 2017. It wasnt until 2019 that a physical version was made.

So isarai... you may have bought it physically but it wast "at launch".

neutralgamer199297d ago

MS want their fanbase to use GP and sign up for the service. I doubt they will do a physical. Sadly it seems the days of Physical games are starting to see an end point. These gamers who are happy with all digital and praising will soon realize having less options will never be benefical

neomahi96d ago

I'm hoping you're right on Alan Wake II. As is stands right now, I'm rather impressed with my will to resist, I'm doing great at waiting for a sale and price drop to get it for $15. Imagine what game sales could do if it's my only option. Physical media Ive gotten day 1 for a long time, full price. Digital, as I said, I think my bank will be rather impressed with my increase savings, that they can somehow manage to hang on to my money

+ Show (6) more repliesLast reply 96d ago
RaidenBlack99d ago

Calm down ... physical version will come ...

98d ago Replies(5)
neomahi96d ago

You'd think so, but it didn't happen with HiFi Rush. You'd also think they saw the crazy money they saw with Collectors Edition scrambling for versions before they sell out. Sonys great at that and rarely seem to have overstock as a result, their CE are always gone in under 5 minutes. Getting every CE for a PlayStation game is like getting the PS5 was at launch.... That's just PlayStation demand. You'd think Xbox would see it the same

Fishy Fingers99d ago

Beginning to question why I even put that DVD+RW drive in my PC.

Quote me videogamer, I'm fuming.

RaidenBlack99d ago

exactly ... the largest gaming platform has already gone digital-only

Terry_B98d ago

..since around 10 years.

Amplitude97d ago (Edited 97d ago )

Bad comparison honestly.
I primarily play on PC this gen for all the obvious reasons but in the past, I only bought console games physically.

I'm comfortable buying digital on PC because
1- I fully trust Valve to allow me to have access to my games for the rest of my life. They've never taken any digital content away from me.
2- I don't trust Sony or Nintendo to have access to my games for the rest of my life. They have taken digital content away from me.
3- PC is an open market with multiple storefronts that can compete, like GOG.
4. PC is an open platform, where all games are guaranteed to be archived for all of history. Even if Valve gets blown up by nukes, I'm confident I can get any game I want back. Can't say the same for the PS5.

Once a console is hacked with a CFW I actually start buying digital games lol. I'm maybe a bit extreme with this.

XiNatsuDragnel99d ago

Well this is lame I'll wait till the physical 😊

TwoPicklesGood99d ago

LOL, they get it on Game Pass so fans aren’t skipping anything.

ChasterMies97d ago

Dude, Game Pass is the whole point of Microsoft releasing this as digital only. Microsoft doesn’t want you to sell games. Microsoft wants to rent them. Just look at how Microsoft sells Office. I’m on the side of paying once for software, including games.

Seafort97d ago

I'll rent away all I can. These companies won't be able to sell any of their games for $70/£60 anymore when I can just pay £10-15 for 3 month's game pass and access to most of the MS games. This is what I'll be doing with HellBlade, Indy Jones and Avowed.

If they don't want us to own our games the gamers won't be paying full price anymore.

I sub for £12-15 per month with EA and Ubisoft, finish their high priced games and unsub. What would have cost me £120+, cost me £15 at most.

Show all comments (131)
390°

Why Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2’s Runtime of 9 Hours is Completely Fine

Hellblade 2 is confirmed to be around 9 hours in length, and there's a strong case as to why that relatively short length will likely be one of its strongest suits.

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gamingbolt.com
FPSRUSSIA8d ago

It's Good Since it's on Game Pass I wouldn't Pay 50 for it since it's Digital Only

Eonjay8d ago

The first game was a similar length but if I remember correctly it didn't carry the full price of AAA games when the first on launched. If I were them, I would take a note from the pages of some of the most successful games this year and keep it a $39.99. I think the result is they will sell more. It will balance out because at the higher price they will sell less. I think in the end the lower price will wind up generating the most revenue. Of course I am talking about the PC release and then the eventually PS5 release whenever it hits.

Terry_B7d ago

It was not. The first game had a length of about 4-5 hours.

I bet the new game is similar long.

neutralgamer19928d ago

I think MS can take that chances of a 9 hour game because of GP. Vast majority of Xbox gamers play games using GP(no doubt excellent value)

Personally I bought the first game when it was under $20 and I would have done the same if I didn’t have GP. I rather have 9 hours of quality content than 50 hours of fetch quests. As I grow and have less time for gaming I honestly don’t mind medium size games because there are way too many open world games

Obscure_Observer8d ago

9 hours is totally fine. Especially for Senua's fans who beat the first game.

Eonjay8d ago

This. In fact I think the original was only 8 hours so this is right in line with expectations.

Barlos8d ago ShowReplies(10)
Crows908d ago ShowReplies(4)
TheCaptainKuchiki8d ago (Edited 8d ago )

Okay but they didn't have MS' money for the first game. Now they do so 9 hour is unacceptable.

S2Killinit8d ago ShowReplies(1)
+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 7d ago
jznrpg8d ago

Strongest suits ? I don’t buy very short games until they are very cheap.

Redgrave8d ago

Let us see if it truly does somehow improve the game after the time spent waiting, or if this will be cited in the downsides of reviews.

Sonic18818d ago (Edited 8d ago )

It took me 7 hours to beat the first game. But since it's on gamepass on PC and Xbox who cares about the length

DRambo8d ago ShowReplies(2)
Show all comments (95)
80°

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 – Everything You Need to Know

Here's everything you should know about Ninja Theory's long-awaited sequel.

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gamingbolt.com
jznrpg10d ago

I know I don’t buy short games until they are very cheap. Yeah yeah I know what the rest will say but I don’t rent games either

InUrFoxHole9d ago

What's the proper length of a game for you?

250°

Why Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Looks Set to be One of the Most Notable Xbox Games of This Generation

Even though it’s a Microsoft exclusive coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, Cloud, and Game Pass day one, the next chapter in Senua’s Saga is set to be one of the biggest games of the year after it releases on May 21st.

Read Full Story >>
gamingbolt.com
Obscure_Observer17d ago

it will be such an unique experience blended with unparalleled realism, visuals and art.

May 21st can´t come soon enough.

BehindTheRows17d ago

Unique in what way? “Unparalleled realism” in what way?

GamerRN16d ago

You kinda gotta play the game to understand it. Videos don't do this game justice.

Obscure_Observer16d ago

"Unique in what way? “Unparalleled realism” in what way?"

If you don´t played the first game you can´t possible understand.

Barlos17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

Have we never had realism, visuals and art in games before?

How exactly will this be a 'unique experience', and why do you always have to sound like a salesman?

dveio16d ago (Edited 16d ago )

"it will be such an unique experience"

I agreed here.

"blended with unparalleled realism, visuals and art."

Ah come on, bro.

You can't tell me you're not laughing your ass off when typing such PR babble. You've got to be kidding me if you say otherwise.

Why ... do you do that? What's inside you causing this awkward type of overacting?

I really, really wish you and plenty other die-hard Xbox and Hellblade 2 enthusiasts that this game won't go down as a 65 scored metacritic/opencritic Xbox first party title.

Otherwise hell freezes over then I guess.

GamerRN16d ago

It will arguably be the best looking game so far this gen

mkis00716d ago (Edited 16d ago )

Gamer
No arguments there; that is the focus of the game so far: PResentation. Kind of like a Ryse situation so far.

BehindTheRows16d ago

@GamerRN

I own the original. Unless it is drastically different from that, I don’t see what so unique. Visuals look fantastic, yes, but not a blowout if the best of the best currently out there. And, it’s doing far less.

BehindTheRows16d ago (Edited 16d ago )

I own and have beaten the first game. Yes, the mental health aspects (particularly with headphones) was cool. Outside of that however, I don’t see anything new and unique from it (though I’m sure once it’s out, we’ll have a better idea).

Potentially the best looking game to release? Yep.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 16d ago
glenn197917d ago

Can't wait , I dint care if its 30 or 120fps if its llay good Im all in

Sonic188117d ago (Edited 17d ago )

I'm keeping my expectations low on this one because I thought the first game was mediocre at best with good-looking graphics. The gameplay had no depth in the first game and I remember doing more walking than fighting in the first game. It has the potential to win graphics of the year though.

17d ago Replies(3)
Crows9017d ago

Good idea. MS has been doing a banger job at hyping up their games...they don't typically deliver.

It's probably going to be a solid 3/5 game..maybe a 4

17d ago Replies(4)
17d ago
Nerdmaster17d ago

I guess we all liked different aspects of the game. I actually wanted a little less fighting so I could concentrate on Senua's psyche.
My fear is exactly that they'll "mainstream" the game and make it more hack'n slash, in detriment of the deep dive into Senua's mind that the first game had.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 17d ago
Sgt_Slaughter17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

That headline is the most unfortunate setup for a dig at Xbox, given the lack of games that have warranted even purchasing an Xbox (and that can date back to 2013). It's almost a notable Xbox game by default.

17d ago
Sgt_Slaughter17d ago

Sales and review scores don't lie, and those support my take.

Chevalier17d ago

"No they don't"

Really name a 1st party Xbox exclusive that was GotY for Xbox in the last decade? Or that sold 10+ million? So yeah sales and reviews definitely do back it up

Sciurus_vulgaris17d ago

I can’t wait to play. I’m also very eager to watch Digital Foundry’s technical analysis of Hellblade 2.

Obscure_Observer17d ago (Edited 17d ago )

"I can’t wait to play. I’m also very eager to watch Digital Foundry’s technical analysis of Hellblade 2."

Don´t pay some serious attention to that jealous PC fanboy Alex Battaglia, though.

He was caught lying about the original Hellblade in the last video. Lol!

He said he couldn´t understand the combat mechanics and or how it works, if players can dodge, if players can block, he couldn´t tell by the footage that he saw.

Clearly perplexed, Richard had him Interrupted and asked him:

"Sorry, you don´t have a sense of the combat mechanics is that right?"

Which Alex replied:

"I still don´t have a sense of it, no. Because when I look at it a see a number of finishing animations at times... uh... I see what looks like slashing animations which could be from like tapping X or A... I don´t really know... um... which... I just don´t have really good sense of like what the beats and what you´re avoiding and like... are there invulnerability frames or can´t you block? There´s like a lot of things that I just exactly know about the combat yet "

A few minutes later, when a confused John asked: "Have you played most of the original, Alex?"

Alex gagged and responded: "Yeah, I´ve, I´ve beaten it."

John: "Wow! Okay..."

Lmao! MF lied through his teeth!

He couldn´t make a sense of how the entire game works, and yet, he had the balls to claim he´d beat the first game.

What a sad liar! Smdh.

That clown got both Richard and John clearly embarrassed by his clueless comments. Lmao!

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

17d ago
Eonjay17d ago

Are you sure it's that and not his comment about the game looking really soft? I know it wasn't just me but the game looks really soft on some videos. They alluded to the YouTube compression but I am interested to see a proper comparison. How does it look on PC and what can we expect from UE5 on consoles for the rest of the Gen.

I suspect, looking at Immortals of Avian and Remnant 2 and their incredibly low native resolutions that this may be impacting Hellblade 2. However let's hold off judgement until Immortals gets the FSR 3/framegen treatment. I feel like these techs would boost Hellblade up nicely.

canoffanta17d ago

Alex Battaglia is a graphics purist. The console currently on the market and the ps5 Pro coming to market simply cannot come anywhere near what PC's are doing right now. Graphics are his passion and he is an enthusiast. Saying he is jealous, what exactly is he jealous of?

tronyx1217d ago

His critique is valid. The game is cinematic to a level kinda not seen before in an action game. I'm also very skeptical there will be any meaningfull engaging gameplay at alll. He's digging at the fact the game literally feels like a cutscene. Not like Last of Us or Metal Gear which have a lot of cutscene, the whole games feel like a one-shot cutscene.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 17d ago
Cockney7d ago

I'm more interested in seeing some gameplay

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