Gaming studio Ninja Theory has finally released the release date of the upcoming “Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice”, a game in which the player is tasked to work through traumatic events and psychosis, rooted in a world inspired by Celtic and Norse mythology.
In a small press release, Ninja Theory has finally given us a release date for their upcoming game, “Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice”. The game will get a digital release on August 8th, both on PS4 and on PC. Additionally, the minimal specs for the PC release have been communicated:
OS: Windows 7, 8, 10
Processor: Intel i5 3570K / AMD FX-8350
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: GTX 770 with 2GB VRAM / Radeon R9 280X 3GB
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 30 GB available space
Additional Notes: Minimum spec screen resolution: 1280×720
“Hellblade” tells the story of Senua, a young woman who works through her own personal hell, filled with traumatic events and episodes involving psychosis. Certainly, this is not your average 3rd person action-adventure. Although the developers are just a small group of 20 people, the company tries to push the limits on this ambitious title. On their choice of working independently, their website had this to say: “We are embracing the creative spirit that comes with independence without letting go of the stunning production values that we are known for. It’s not indie, it’s not AAA. This is a third way. its independent AAA.”
‘Independent AAA’ sounds like a dream come true for gamers who want to see original games focused on bringing experiences and good gameplay, rather that the next game in a long line of sequels. Technology-wise, Ninja Theory shouldn’t be treated as an indie gaming company, though. In a list of development diaries, we get to see how the developers make use of the latest motion capture technology, VR mechanics, and a state-of-the-art sound design. Rather than focusing on a gaming engine that supports multiple characters, the team has resorted to hiring a set of actors to portray certain characters in-game, which bridges the gap between game and movie, edging on the term ‘experience’.
The game certainly looks promising, and let’s hope the developers might be rewarded by critics and gamers alike. After all, their focus is blowing the gaming world wide-open in order to focus more on “creative and diverse gaming world for developers and players alike.”
