Hellblade 3 reportedly in development as Ninja Theory is no longer working on Project Mara

Windows Central editor Jez Corden reported that Ninja Theory is working on a more interactive third Hellblade title and that Project Mara, an experimental concept announced in 2020, is not currently being worked on.

Ninja Theory is reportedly developing a third major Hellblade game that will place greater emphasis on interactive gameplay, according to Windows Central editor Jez Corden on the Xbox Two podcast. The first two Hellblade titles centered on Senua and were widely noted for their visuals and storytelling, while some critics said they prioritized cinematography over gameplay. Corden also said that Project Mara, an experimental concept announced in 2020, is not currently an active project at the studio. Microsoft and IGN were contacted for further comment. Known details: - Two Hellblade titles have released to date, featuring the character Senua and themes of combat and mental health. - Jez Corden reported on the Xbox Two podcast that the next Ninja Theory game is Hellblade 3 and will be more interactive than earlier entries. - Corden said Project Mara was "only ever a concept" and is not a game currently being worked on by Ninja Theory; he reiterated this on social media. - Project Mara was announced in 2020 as an experimental title exploring new storytelling approaches and combining technology, game design, and clinical neuroscience. - The studio has worked with Microsoft's generative AI model Muse on a project that generated clips of simulated gameplay. - Tameem Antoniades, a co-founder associated with the studio, quietly left Ninja Theory last year, a departure Microsoft later acknowledged to Polygon. Summary: If the reporting is accurate, Ninja Theory appears to be shifting its next major release toward a more interactive Hellblade entry while Project Mara remains only a concept rather than an active project. IGN has contacted Microsoft for comment. Undetermined at this time.