In May, developer Ninja Theory confirmed that Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II would be heading to the PlayStation 5, and now we have a release date: August 12. That launch, however, comes in the form of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Enhanced, which will also be a free update for Xbox Series X|S and PC players. The updated version adds graphical and gameplay additions, including an enhanced Photo Mode and developer commentary. In addition, Ninja Theory confirmed the game will be Steam Deck Verified on August 12.
The Standard Edition of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II Enhanced will be available for $49.99, while the $69.99 Deluxe Edition adds Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, optimized for PlayStation 5. The more expensive version also includes the Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice original soundtrack. Those who already own Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice on PlayStation 4 can get a free upgrade to the PlayStation 5 version. Currently, PlayStation preorders include the Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II original soundtrack app.
So what exactly does the Enhanced version add? For starters, there is a Performance Mode, which delivers 60 FPS performance—but not on the Xbox Series S. On PC, the team is adding a “Very High” preset to push fidelity even further, assuming you have the hardware for it. In terms of gameplay changes, The Dark Rot from Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice has returned to give players an additional challenge. This optional game mode sees the Dark Rot growing each time a player fails, and if it reaches Senua’s head, all progress is lost and Senua’s adventure ends.
As for the enhanced Photo Mode, there have been improvements made across its settings, including the addition of a new “Motion” tab for custom cinematic video capture. Lastly, Ninja Theory has added over four hours of developer commentary to the game, taking players behind the scenes of development.
