Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Trailer Showcases Incredible Real-Time Facial Animation

The power of Metahuman and Unreal Engine brings Senua and her facial animations to life in painstakingly realistic detail.

During the latest State of Unreal presentation, Ninja Theory showcased a short new trailer for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. It focuses on real-time facial animation for Senua, the protagonist, made possible with Metahuman and Unreal Engine. Check it out below.

Announced in 2019 at The Game Awards for Xbox Series X/S and PC, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is a follow-up to the studio’s hit action-adventure Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Development on Unreal Engine 5 was announced in 2020, and since then, Ninja Theory has released videos showcasing cloud formation and dissolving, cinematic lighting, etc.

The last gameplay reveal was at The Game Awards 2021, which was all real-time in-engine. A release date hasn’t been confirmed, though rumors suggest that after Starfield, it’s the next big first-party title from Xbox Game Studios that’s close to release. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months, especially with the Xbox Games Showcase set for June 11th.