Ninja Theory‘s highly anticipated sequel Hellblade 2 has been one of gaming’s most eagerly awaited titles ever since its reveal. As the studio’s first game built using Unreal Engine 5, it has been touted as a technical showcase for the powerful new engine. Now, details have emerged on how the game will utilize UE5’s capabilities – and the tradeoffs required to deliver its vision of hyper-realistic graphics.
As confirmed by German outlet GamePro, Hellblade 2 will run at a locked 30fps on Xbox Series X/S consoles. The game dynamically scales its resolution based on workload but does not offer different graphics modes to target higher frame rates. This approach was chosen to provide a “cinematic experience” according to the game’s VFX director. While it may disappoint some players hoping for smoother visuals, the decision underscores Ninja Theory’s goal of pushing the boundaries of photorealism.
Pushing the Limits of Realism
To achieve its strikingly lifelike visuals, the studio captured extensive real-world location scans during trips to Iceland and motion captured both performances and combat animations. Props and costumes were also scanned at ultra-high resolution for inclusion in the game world. This meticulous level of detail helps explain the technical demands Hellblade 2 places on current-gen consoles. By sacrificing frame rate, more processing power can be devoted to rendering its vast, intricately detailed environments.
While the 30fps limitation may put off some, for most the technical showcase that Hellblade 2 promises will likely make any compromise worthwhile. As a first-party Xbox title also coming to PC, players will have the option to experience the game’s full visual potential free of constraints when it launches exclusively on those platforms on May 21st, 2023. For now, console fans will have to settle for an equally immersive, if slightly less smooth experience when the game arrives day one on Game Pass.