Yet another Xbox first-party game – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 – is set to launch on PlayStation 5 in the coming months, and it will be accompanied by a long-overdue upgrade to its predecessor: Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. The first Hellblade game received a comprehensive next-gen update on Xbox consoles a few years ago, and PS5 users will now be able to try it out as well, that too at no extra cost.
Developed by Ninja Theory and originally launched in 2017 as a PS4 console exclusive, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice quickly gained recognition for its deeply emotional narrative, accurate portrayal of mental health issues, excellent visuals, and trippy sound design. However, due to Microsoft’s 2018 acquisition of Ninja Theory, the sequel to Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice – Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 – did not come to PS5 when it launched in 2024. Ninja Theory even released a next-gen version of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice for Xbox Series X/S back in 2021, but none of those enhancements made their way to PS5 players.
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There’s Something Weird About the Hellblade 2 Physical Release
Recent reports point out something weird about the upcoming physical release of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, which still does not have an exact date.
Now, with Xbox leaning harder into multiplatform releases and launching game after game on PS5, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 has been confirmed to show up on the Sony console starting August 12, 2025. Unlike prior Xbox first-party ports, though, Ninja Theory is bringing the next-gen version of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice to PS5 alongside Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. If the Hellblade double whammy wasn’t enough, the UK-based studio will also issue the next-gen version as a free upgrade to PlayStation users who already own Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, which is an appreciable and pro-consumer gesture.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice on PS5 Will Offer Ray Tracing, 120fps Support, and Much More
Those who don’t already own Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice can grab the next-gen version via the $70 Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Deluxe Edition, which additionally packs in the former’s original soundtrack. As for what the PS5-optimized version of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice will offer, players can expect bells and whistles like improved graphical fidelity, ray-traced reflections, better shadow quality, up to 4K resolution, and even a 120fps performance mode. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 sees gameplay improvements as well, most notably in the form of a long-requested 60fps performance mode for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
After an eight-year hiatus from PlayStation, Ninja Theory is coming back all guns blazing on PS5 with the simultaneous releases of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 and Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice optimized for current-gen systems. For PS5 users interested in checking back in with Senua, both the standalone and Deluxe versions of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 are available for pre-order right now. Interestingly, the Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Deluxe Edition is currently exclusive to PS5, likely because Microsoft wants to encourage Series X/S and PC users to play both Hellblade games via Xbox Game Pass.