"This is not Hellblade 3" — Ninja Theory reveals new game Senua at the XBOX Showcase
Ninja Theory want to evolve the Hellblade series with deeper combat and exploration
At the Xbox Games Showcase 2026, Ninja Theory has officially announced Senua. A new action-adventure that serves as an "additive evolution" of the beloved series.
While it continues the journey of Senua, Studio Head Dom Matthews has clarified in an interview with Xbox Wire that this is not Hellblade 3, but rather a fresh start designed to give players more agency and exploration.
Ninja Theory is all working as an 85-person studio altogether for the first time in over a decade to give us Senua.
This game promises to combine the the intimate storytelling and high production values of previous Hellblade titles and blend them with more gameplay elements. The team aims to satisfy fans' requests for deeper mechanics. So all those "it's a walking simulator" comments will be silenced!





“This is an out-and-out action-adventure game,” says Matthews. “It’s about giving Hellblade fans what they’ve been asking for while meeting action-adventure players’ expectations — and the way that manifests is in broader gameplay, more combat depth, and an interconnected world.”
The combat system is a highlight of this shift, featuring tactical choice. Players can now utilize stealth, verticality, and environmental objects to handle encounters, along with new combat abilities like dual-wielding and powerful Focus moves that alter reality.
The game also promises a significantly larger, interconnected world that rewards player perception and curiosity. Set in Senua’s vision of Purgatory, the story bridges the gap between past games while remaining fully accessible to newcomers.
With a scheduled release in 2027, I'm sure we'll see more of the game between now and the intended release. The title will arrive on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Steam, and PlayStation 5, and will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass.
For the full deep dive into the combat systems and story, head over to the official Xbox Wire article.
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Jen is a News Writer for Windows Central, focused on all things gaming and Microsoft. Anything slaying monsters with magical weapons will get a thumbs up such as Dark Souls, Dragon Age, Diablo, and Monster Hunter. When not playing games, she'll be watching a horror or trash reality TV show, she hasn't decided which of those categories the Kardashians fit into. You can follow Jen on Twitter @Jenbox360 for more Diablo fangirling and general moaning about British weather.
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