Hellblade 2 looks like the most visually ambitious Unreal Engine 5 game yet

A closer look at Ninja Theory's state-of-the-art graphics.

[PrinceOfAnger]

Will look best on PC with 60fps can't wait!
i think there will be some RT - PT mods like they did with horizon games etc

[PrinceOfAnger]

Hellblade 2 and Squadron 42 looks like a real next gen games hope to see a release date soon.

[Sonic1881]

It runs in 964p on the Series X/S. What a joke. PC is definitely the way to go for this game

[Obscure_Observer]

"It runs in 964p on the Series X/S. What a joke. PC is definitely the way to go for this game"

*NATIVE* 964p up to 1070p on a UE5 powered game which has all of its features like MetaHuman, Nanite, Lumen and Virtual Shadow Maps. And you called it a joke?!

And you claim to be a PC GAMER?!

I think you lie through your teeth.

When Hellblade II finally releases, I want to see benchmarks from your PC and have a good laugh!

Just wait for it.

[Sonic1881]

@Obscure_Observer

You're definitely reaching now. Desperate comment on your part. Everyone knows PC is the way to go if you want to play it in 60fps. The UE5 engine excuse is getting old. Remnant 2 is using UE5 and it also has a 60fps option and the game looks great. GTFO liar which you're good at. It's getting embarrassing reading your comments most of the time 😂

https://www.ign.com/article...

By the way Black Myth Wukong will also have a 60fps option on consoles using UE5 😂 and the developer already mentioned it.

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

[Obscure_Observer]

@Sonic1881

Everyone knows that ports for modern PC will ALWAYS be superior when compared to consoles, genius. Especially compared to 4 year old consoles which is not even fair. Only insecure weirdos needs to constantly keep talking about it.

That said, no *every* PC will do it. And I doubt you´re a PC gamer in the first place due your very dumb and clueless comments regarding technology and gaming.

Nobody will find you on PC only related topics, but in console topics cheerleading PS5 games and trashing *every single* Xbox game.

You don´t love games at all, all you love is a plastic box which I don´t even believe in your claims to own.

Just prove me wrong and just show us your benchmarks when Hellblade II gets released. I´ll wait.

[Michiel1989]

can we just stop with the sounding like a broken record? ps5/switch games also run better on pc because DRUMROLL, pc's have stronger hardware.

[Sonic1881]

"You don´t love games at all, all you love is a plastic box which I don´t even believe in your claims to own."

I already prove to a few people that I own a PC a few years back and they still didn't believe it. A matter of fact I've played with some of the user's on here on N4G that only owns a PC 😀. I also have a active steam account and the last game I played on it was Dragon's Dogma 2, Helldivers, and Baldur Gate 3. Anything else Obscure_Observer. Btw I also own a Nintendo switch and PS5

[rlow1]

You are the joke. You say the same thing on every Xbox article always pushing the negative in your comments. Once in awhile I’ll see something sensible from you but mostly just trash comments.

Does it really destroy your world about how many frames or resolution game has ? Just because you hate Xbox doesn’t mean you have to bring in the negative into every article.

Game looks amazing and enjoyable and that what counts in the end.

[S2Killinit]

I honestly dont have much interest in this. Its all pretty much pre rendered. Its not so much a game than an interactive movie. It somehow rubs me the wrong way because while I dont have an issue with games like Heavy Rain I feel that this is acting like its something its not. It tries to be a normal videogame but it really is not. As opposed to interactive games that focus on choices. Im sure this will be an ok game, but nothing that would make me want to spend money on.

[Espangerish]

Do all these people disagreeing with you actually think the game won’t look better on pc at 60fps?!

Or are they just console fan boys who refuse to accept that games on a $400 console will look and perform worse than on a $3000 pc.

[Obscure_Observer]

@Espangerish

"Or are they just console fan boys who refuse to accept that games on a $400 console will look and perform worse than on a $3000 pc."

Assuming that you have a $3000 Rig, absolutely. But there´s lots a lying clowns here claiming to be PC gamers with very expensive and powerful machines, and yet, by their clueless comments alone it´s easier for anyone with minimal technical knowledge to spot a liar.

Any person that is in fact a PC gamer and PLAY actual games, knows that UE5 has incredibly high resource usage.

Now let clueless idiots call a joke, trash, unacceptable and a "blurry mess" the most resourceful and feature-rich UE5 game to date, running at internal resolution and performance of 1070p at 30fps on a 4 year old console which still can´t take advantage of more modern PC resources like FSR 3?

Digital Foundry literally is calling Hellblade II the most beautiful UE5 game to date and technical Marvel, but here you have a bunch of jealous liars sh!ting on the game just because it´s not available on their favorite plastic box.

I call them liars, because real PC gamers would be happy about a game which do nothing other to make their investments on a very expensive rig, worthwhile. Taking full advantage of it. Even if such game/genre is not their thing.

[z2g]

I think 60fps will actually cheapen the experience imo. I know 30 fps isn’t usually ideal but in this case makes it feel more like a movie, which is cool imo. 60 fps is good for sims and competitive games imo but I’m ok with 30 fps on games like this. I say this having a pc that can easily run anything at 4k/60 (2x 4090s)

[Sonic1881]

Once you play games in 60fps or 120fps, It's hard to ever go back to 30fps. Lucky for me I can play this game in 60fps on PC🙌🏻

[Hereandthere]

According to digital foundry, Hellblade 2 runs at 964p to 1070p at 30fps on series x

[Fishy Fingers]

Say hello to UE5 gaming on 4 year old APUs.

But you can cherry pick the stats for or against, on your TV its probably still going to be the best looking console game yet.

[Hereandthere]

No way, not from some cheap free tools unreal engine 5. This no sony high production game with its own custom engine, its a low funded cheap free unreal engine tools game.

[Fishy Fingers]

Hmmm you might be right, you definitely sound like you know your stuff.

:|

[Sonic1881]

Fortnite runs UE5

[Lightning77]

Too many sacrifices. All this for graphics.

I dunno if it's worth it tbh.

@Hear wtf does that have to do with Sony!?

[purple101]

Jeezuz

What’s it going to be on the console 75% of people got

[darthv72]

60%...

[purple101]

Oh had the numbers moved from 75% no one told me, needs an article don’t you think?

“ That's according to documents from the recent court leaks from Microsoft vs. FTC. A heavily redacted document from the case shows that nearly 75%, 74.8% to be exact, of Xbox Series owners own a Series S.” sept' 2023

or did you mean 60percent less powerful so 60% worse?

[darthv72]

Series X Panther - 60% of the time, it works every time

[purple101]

@darth I still don’t get it

You give me too much credit for being clever, when infact I am extraordinarily inept

[darthv72]

https://youtu.be/m9iXlOHtzV...

[bababooiy]

All the post processing isnt making things any better either, you can see the environments just look blurry and faded. Senuas model looks very impressive but everything else just screams budget title.

[Tacoboto]

According to Digital Foundry:

"This is a profoundly improved sequel and a game that is generationally advanced beyond its predecessor."

"Hellblade 2 is just on another level in almost every respect in terms of core technology."

"...and is possibly even a bit ahead of Hellblade 2's first gameplay trailer."

"This could be the very best looking Unreal Engine 5 title out there"

N4G's takeway: 1070p30fps off cheap free UE5.

[Elda]

I can see on this on the Series S but on the Series X? That's just horrible & unacceptable.

[jwillj2k4]

This isn’t shouldnt be categorized as a game it’s just an interactive movie.

[PrinceOfAnger]

you mean The order/death stranding, until dawn
Detroit ?

[MrNinosan]

The Order and Death Stranding doesn't belong to interactive movie category.
Until Dawn and Detroit sure does.

[jwillj2k4]

Those games are almost ALL gameplay with choices that affect the end game. They include movie cuts to help tell the story.

This “game” is almost ALL movie with sprinkles of linear walking paths.

[Terry_B]

Holy Shit. First submitting an article..after that writing the first comment about it and praising the game, after that replying to yourself, praising the game even more..and after that defending the game and coming up with other games when someone points out it will be more like an interactive movie.

Sorry, can't take you serious any longer.

[Crows90]

All the games you mentioned had more gameplay than hellblade 1...so no. Especially death stranding....you are so incredibly off the mark there. Some of the games you mention have branching storylines based on your choices....that's a lot more than a simple interactive movie...

Stop being disingenuous...

[LoveSpuds]

Curious to know how you have arrived at that conclusion when so little gameplay has been shown off jwillj2k4.

How about showing Ninja Theory some respect and acknowledging the hard work and talent required to make this game.

Real people worked really hard on this game and you choose to act like a 5 year old. Wait to play the game before you start with your criticism. Even then, if you don't like it that doesn't mean others wont, just accept it wasnt for you and move on, as it stand you just seem super ill informed and spiteful.

[jwillj2k4]

First off, categorizing does not equal criticism stop trying to gaslight.

Secondly, the “game” has been worked on for 7+ years and is only about 7 hours long, is about to release in a month, has only shown movie cuts and LINEAR WALKING PATHS as “gameplay”, (did I mention comes out in a month?) and has a price matching a AA game.

Did you forget the multiple no shows at various E3’s and then finally showing up only to give us more movie cuts advertised as “gameplay”?

Nothing is wrong with the above, however based on what little they’ve shown this “game”, it is a walking experience not an actual game title. They’ve substituted movie equipment for Unreal engine.

[Sonic1881]

That's probably the reason why it's only 7-8 hours long

[Obscure_Observer]

MASTERPIECE

I can´t wait!!!

[Skuletor]

Heard the same thing about Starfield before it launched.

[Charlieboy333]

Redfall too

[Sonic1881]

He's a pathological liar 😂

[LoveSpuds]

Dear God Obscure, you haven't played it squire, how about being objective just for once!

I get being excited, but to call something we know relatively little about a masterpiece without even playing it is ridiculous.

[Obscure_Observer]

"I get being excited, but to call something we know relatively little about a masterpiece without even playing it is ridiculous."

Never see you calling anyone out by referring to a Playstation game as GOTY or Masterpiece, prior release.

So give me a break and spare me from your hypocrisy.

[LoveSpuds]

Because I have never seen any one individual behave the way you do here, you are such a negative force here on N4G, I only wish we still had the bubble system.

[Obscure_Observer]

Don´t give a flying f* about what you think about me, dude. No sure why you even replied to my comment in the first place.

*You* are the negative force here. I´m an Xbox fan and this is an Xbox topic, an exciting one. And unsurprisingly you here full of salt playing the hype police.

GTFO and just refrain from ever reply to me again.

[Lightning77]

He's simply his excited for the game. You being angry over his excitement says allot more about you than it does him.

His "behavior" with this comment is "unacceptable" because he's getting excited over a game that's not in your favorite box.

You're definitely wrong in this scenario. Instead of admitting you're wrong here I'm sure you'll spin this in some miraculous deflection stating how he's still wrong.

I don't even pay attention to what Observer says at times but again, you're definitely wrong in this scenario.

[Terry_B]

lol. are you and princeofanger the same person? :-)

[Crows90]

They might be. Both come off as ridiculous. They didn't praise the 1st game anywhere near as much...it's blatantly obvious what they're doing

[PrinceOfAnger]

Lol both of you are really sick
just getting rekt and envious of something
you are both sony fanboys downplaying anything not from sony in this site
and lol @Crow
I have finished Hellblade 1 multiple times on PC and praised the game on different sites both of you making yourself look stupid and you are, pls seek help.

[Traecy]

A masterpiece at 8 hrs or less including you never played Hellblade 2... Smh.

[Elda]

LMAO!! No review scores yet nor do you have a copy to make a claim of H2 being a masterpiece.

[Hereandthere]

Digital Foundry quotes
Says image quality is 'mixed'
-letterbox
-Low res
-soft images
-unwelcome effects
-blurry
-image breakup in motion
-and artifact prone quality in motion

Sounds like Xbox was the one needing a Pro console

[Minute Man 721]

Xbox Pro, PS Pro won't get 4K 60

[Eonjay]

UE5 can run up to 120 FPS in open world on console. So one imagines, that this game is probably GPU bound the dynamic range also gives it away in the circumstance. So what it boils down to is how good UE5 runs on a dual issue GPU... I will go do some research but more likely given the same resolution the PS5 pro could deliver 60 FPS or close to it. With PSSR it could deliver 4K 60 no problem. (This would be upscaled from 1080p). Some caveats I would mention is we haven't seen PSSR yet. Is it inline with something like DLSS. Can it reduce the softness of the title on Xbox? This all assume UE5 wouldn't take advantage of RNDA 4 dual issue.

[Minute Man 721]

@Eonjay not using "Nanite"

[LoveSpuds]

I suppose the game isn't finished yet though, Ninja Theory may still polish some of those rough edges yet, maybe?

[Chevalier]

"Sounds like Xbox was the one needing a Pro console"

Literally no point because they will still be tied down by the Series S

[kickerz]

Congratulations, out of loads and loads of positive things eurogamer had to say about the visuals you got your notebook and pen out and found 7 negatives. You deserve a mickey mouse badge.

[Ironmike]

Here we go with it can't look great or its just interactive movie because its getting some praise every game is an interactive movie but ur the director a gamevtells a story like movie and u control character to reach outcome of story interactive movie pls give up with moron comments and show me a ps5 unreal 5 game running in a high resolution pls hurry iam waiting u know y cos u can't so stop hating on something none of played and stop being critical of ppl who actually have

[LoveSpuds]

I agree folk need to give the benefit of the doubt and are even justified in being excited because the game really does look great.

But I think overhyping every MS release is equally as frustrating to many gamers. You know its just the extremist fringes of the gaming community who are being negative, right? You are better off ignoring these idiots, I am a playstation guy personally, we aren't all headcases, most people are rational.

[Ironmike]

Thank you its nice to see a rational comment on here I own both consoles myself and a lot ppl shit on ronin I decided to try for myself and not listen to ppl and iam loving it I don't bash the game for its graphics or framerate or whatever else ppl hate on certain games if I enjoy the game that's good enough for me and if u don't like that's okay as well but to hate on game none of us has played it just silly

[LoveSpuds]

Glad to hear Ronin is decent mate, it's high on my list to play next as I have been hooked on Shogun on Disney and need more! I grew up playing games through the 80s and I think this made me super chilled about graphics and performance, one benefit of being and old fart I guess😄

Have a great day squire

[Reaper22_]

Very good looking game. Microsoft was smart to buy NT.

[Elda]

The first Hellblade had low resolution running on the PS4 Pro at 720p, it seems the resolution running on the XBSX is low as well. Seeing this game has a visual upgrade but the resolution being so low is a turn-off for me. At this day in time if the game is running at 30fps the game should be visually appealing at 4k or very close to 4k. 964p to 1070p is just blurry & unacceptable on a large 4k screen. Again..I'll demo the game through Gamepass to see what it's giving.

[Obscure_Observer]

"At this day in time if the game is running at 30fps the game should be visually appealing at 4k or very close to 4k. 964p to 1070p is just blurry & unacceptable on a large 4k screen."

I don´t think you ever played a UE5 powered game in your life to describe a game which *native* resolutions ranges from 964p and 1070p in *2024* as "blurry & unacceptable", otherwise, you would know what TSR and FSR2 main functions are. I don´t even think you have any idea what Nanite is and what it does.

Try to get yourself informed first before you go out spreading misinformation. Because in this case, you´re fooling no one but yourself.

[Elda]

You can defend this XB exclusive & your love for it all you want but any game running at 964p or at 1070p on a fab 65 & 75 inch 4k tv looks like a blurry mess. From the Digital Foundry video I just saw the resolution looks dull instead of pristine, sharp & crystal clear.

[Obscure_Observer]

"You can defend this XB exclusive & your love for it all you want but any game running at 964p or at 1070p on a fab 65 & 75 inch 4k tv looks like a blurry mess."

No it´s not! This is not last gen. TAA, MSAA, SMAA and TAA are things of the past. This has nothing to do with console X or Y.

Unlike previous gens where every single pixel were rendered, modern rendering technology focus on superior pixel count to deliver high quality textures and will only render pixels that is *visible* to you.

So the last thing you´ll see is Hellblade II on Series X been described as "just blurry & unacceptable", because that´s not what Digital Foundry said in this preview at all!

Again, do yourself a favor and get yourself informed. Or just keep playing ignorant for some weird reason beyond logic, because your comments and opinions doesn´t make any sense.

You said you didn´t like the first game and have zero interest in this one. Now "you know" that it´s going to be a blurry and an unacceptable mess on your TV, but you still getting it?

I´m 100% positive that you´ll have better options to play on both PS5 and Switch when Hellblade II gets released. So why bother?

Doesn´t make any sense at all. It´s insane actually.

[Andrew336]

You wrecked that dude. Should probably delete his account out of embarrassment.

[Elda]

Your ranting of defending this game seems to have you confused. I never stated I was " getting it" I clearly stated I will demo H2 through Gamepass. Again...for the umpteenth time 964p & 1070p looks blurry on a expensive huge 4k TV. The image will look soft & dull , the image will not look pristine vividly sharp & crystal clear. I watched the DF video & the images looked soft & dull, the images in the background looked dull as well. You're just going all out trying to defend H2 solely because it's an XB exclusive. You will not sway what I've seen when it comes to the images & resolution of Hellblade 2.

[Obscure_Observer]

"I will demo H2 through Gamepass."

Lol

You gonna play it! Nobody would waste their precious time with an "unacceptable blurry mess of a game." Especially day one!

You have TONS of games to play on the consoles you claim to love, if you´re saving the date and making out of Hellblade II any sort of priority on May 21, it´s because you can´t wait for it! Period!

"You will not sway what I've seen when it comes to the images & resolution of Hellblade 2."

If you were telling the true, you would not bother with that game at all.

[Elda]

There you go again ranting & defending H2 so much that you're delusional including trying to put words in my mouth. Again..for the umpteenth time I've stated that I will demo the game to see what H2 is giving...basically demo Hellblade 2 is to see if it's still boring including seeing if H2 looks blurry running on my XBSX. I never said when I will download the game. I have a yearly subscription to Gamepass & I'm playing P3;Reload through GP including I have tons of current games on my PS5 to play. So...I have plenty of time to demo H2. Got it? or like they say Kapeesh??

[Destiny1080]

looking like another 10/10 xbox special

[anast]

Walking sims make it easier to do this.

[Vithar]

still would love 1440p 60.....

[Reaper22_]

Cant wait to play it. NT are solid devs. Love their games. Smart move by Phil and and Microsoft to buy this studio.