The presentation is expected to run for over 40 minutes, featuring a diverse lineup of game updates from studios worldwide. While Sony has not revealed the full details, leaks and rumors have already generated significant excitement. Below is a summary of key announcements that are either rumored or expected to be revealed during the broadcast:

Leaked and Expected Announcements For February 12 State of Play

• Astro Bot Bundle
  A leak from Billbil-kun suggests that Sony may reveal a special PS5 bundle featuring Astro Bot. This could be one of the announcements during the event.

• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
  Recent reports indicate that Death Stranding 2, subtitled On the Beach, has been rated in South Korea. Kojima was also recently seen editing a trailer for the game.

• Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter Nights 2 – Enhanced Edition
  A leaked SteamDB listing hints at an enhanced or remastered edition of Neverwinter Nights 2. Given Aspyr’s past appearances at State of Play, fans are hopeful for more details.

• Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
  A leaked PlayStation Store page was spotted for the game when it is still not announced for PS4/PS5.

• Hell Is Us
  Leaks from a Microsoft Store listing have reportedly revealed the release date, pricing, pre-order bonuses, and deluxe edition content for Hell Is Us.

• Lost Soul Aside
  The official PlayStation account recently retweeted an announcement about Lost Soul Aside, confirming that more news is on the way.

• Metal Eden
  While details remain scarce, social media activity and updates on the game’s official website suggest that Metal Eden is in development, with more information likely to be shared during the event.

• Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater
  A leaked trailer from the PlayStation Store has already revealed that Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is set for release on August 28, 2025.

• Silent Hill f
  The game was recently rated in South Korea, suggesting that Silent Hill f is approaching an official announcement.

Additional Rumors and Speculation

Beyond these leaks, other rumors are adding to the anticipation. Jez Corden has hinted that Hellblade 2 could be coming to PS5 soon, potentially making an appearance at State of Play. A new report also suggests that the next God of War installment will focus on a young Kratos returning to Greece, and exploring his relationship with Zeus. This contradicts earlier speculation about an Egyptian setting and hints at a prequel or reboot.

There are also rumors of a remastered version of the original God of War trilogy, possibly set for a March 2025 announcement to celebrate the franchise’s 20th anniversary. Additionally, speculation surrounding a Days Gone remaster continues to grow, further fueling excitement for the event.

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The network test download size is reported to be 9.414 GB, and the version being used is identified as 01.000.000. Registrations for the network test opened on January 10 at 6 AM PST and closed on January 20 at 6 AM PST.

Elden Ring Nightreign network test is structured into several sessions to evaluate the game’s online performance and co-op features. Session 1 is scheduled for February 14 from 3 AM to 6 AM PT, followed by Session 2 on the same day from 7 PM to 10 PM PT. Session 3 will take place on February 15 from 11 AM to 2 PM PT, with two more sessions planned for February 16: Session 4 from 3 AM to 6 AM PT and Session 5 from 7 PM to 10 PM PT. This staggered schedule is designed to conduct large-scale network load tests and verify various technical aspects of the game, while allowing teams of three players to team up during each session.

Elden Ring Nightreign offers a fresh multiplayer co-op adventure set in a universe parallel to the main Elden Ring storyline. Players can choose from eight distinct characters, each with unique abilities and powerful ultimates. The adventure takes place in an ever-evolving environment called Limveld, where the night cycle, known as the Night’s Tide, gradually shrinks the playable area and increases the difficulty of encounters. At the end of each night, players will face challenging bosses, culminating in a climactic battle against a powerful Nightlord.

The game emphasizes cooperative gameplay, with teams of three encouraged to combine their abilities to overcome supernatural enemies and navigate the dynamic map. Successful runs during the test are expected to reward players with relics, which can be used to upgrade and customize their characters. The procedural nature of the levels ensures that each session provides a new experience, making every playthrough uniquely challenging.

Elden Ring Nightreign is set to launch in 2025 on multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.

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In a 2021 study published in the Frontiers in Computer Science journal, researchers highlighted the role visual design plays in impacting video game players’ perception of a character’s morality. Researchers note that people use characters’ appearances to judge a character’s morality. At the same time, morality perception has been found to greatly affect people’s enjoyment of games and other media. As such, video game designers and artists try to match character designs with how they want a character to be perceived, whether it’s a bad guy who looks evil or a good guy who looks innocent or even nerdy.

Many video game characters stand out thanks to their character design. Pac-Man, of course, is easily recognizable thanks to his straightforward design. Mario and Luigi, meanwhile, are easily distinguishable thanks to their colored overalls. Through the years, one of the most consistent elements in video game character design — regardless of the time period and setting — is eyewear. 

In this post, we’ll look at four video game characters who make eyewear look extra cool:

Cassie Cage (Mortal Kombat)

The Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise have seen a total of 77 playable fighters throughout the series, in addition to unplayable bosses and guest characters such as DC Comics characters and other pop culture references like RoboCop, the Xenomorph, and more.

Among these characters, Cassie Cage stands out as the daughter of characters Johny Cage and Sonya Blade. One of her key accessories is her shades. The eyewear is clearly inspired by some of the men’s sunglasses from Ray-Ban. The aviators were initially designed for male pilots, but evolutions in fashion and style have adopted them into unisex models. Retailer OPSM offers various aviator models from different brands like Versace, Gucci, and Oakley, all of which can offer modernized takes for Cassie in future Mortal Kombat games. Considering Cassie spawned from Special Forces badass Sonya Blade herself, the aviators provide equal parts style and militaristic vibe, completing her look.

Chamber (Valorant)

First-person shooter Valorant’s characters are a mixed bag of fantasy and tactical designs. As such, French Agent Chamber stands out among the roster for being neither fantasy-based nor militaristic necessarily. The character has become a popular pick among players following an ability update that made him a viable character in the game’s esports competitions.

Among the existing Valorant characters, Chamber stands out due to his immaculate fashion style. Wearing a vest over a dress shirt, many Valorant players and fans who cosplay the character always remember his signature rectangular glasses. Paired with his sleek combover undercut, Chamber’s glasses exude elegance instead of geeky or nerdy. According to character producer John Goscicki, Chamber’s character design tries to represent his attention to detail. As a weapons master and an elite sniper in the game, Chamber’s glasses ensure he never misses his shot on top of making him look stylish on the battlefield.

Bayonetta (Bayonetta 3)

Another iconic eyewear-sporting video game character is Bayonetta, from the game series of the same name. In a previous post, we highlighted balance changes added to Bayonetta 3, which included combat adjustments, balance changes, and changes to game modes. The urban fantasy action-adventure franchise follows the titular Bayonetta character who wields dual pistols in high heels and an unexpected supernatural weapon — her hair.

Her thin-framed, rectangular glasses have become a fashion icon among gamers and fans of the franchise. Today, the frames are simply referred to as Bayonetta glasses or siren glasses, in reference to the “office siren” trend popularized by fashion household names like Hailey Bieber and Gigi Hadid. Aside from the “office siren” trend, many also associate the aesthetic of the Bayonetta glasses with Dark Academia, which is consistent with the Bayonetta games. On social media, the trend is also often called Bayonettacore.

Eggman (Sonic)

Finally, another iconic video game character who popularized their eyewear is the Sonic franchise’s villain, Eggman. The archenemy of Sonic the Hedgehog, Eggman is one of the most famour and distinguishable video game characters. His specialty, aside from his rotund build, is his military robots and pince-nez sunglasses.

Interestingly, the pince-nez style of sunglasses is significantly historical. It was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and was initially worn by being connected using a suspension chain, cord, or ribbon to support easy removal. In cartoonized versions of Eggman, his sunglasses are often drawn as simple ovals or circles. Of course, in the recent film adaptations where comedian Jim Carrey portrays the character, the pince-nez are replaced by thick, steampunk goggles in red lenses.

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Before releasing the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo announced several games for the original Switch. These aren’t small releases either; two of them, Pokemon Z-A and Metroid Prime 4, are highly anticipated. Pokemon Z-A will continue the trend of the Nintendo Switch getting nearly annual Pokemon games. It has received two new entries with Pokemon Sword/Shield and Pokemon Scarlet/Violet. Nintendo has also tried remakes and spin-offs like Pokemon Legends: Arceus. All of these games have been very successful.

This brings us to the Nintendo Switch 2 and the launch of Pokemon Z-A. The biggest issue with the newer Pokemon games has been performance problems, but with better hardware on the horizon, these issues will likely be resolved. This is important because Nintendo has already confirmed that the Switch successor will be backward compatible with the original Switch games. This means fans can expect to play the newer Pokemon games on the Switch 2, potentially with improved performance and visuals.

Backward Compatibility Improvements

The backward compatibility feature is also significant because it means Nintendo will continue to support the original Switch in 2025. Metroid Prime 4 is one of the big games of 2025 and, while it is currently announced for the Switch, it should be playable on the Switch successor with backward compatibility. Owners of the original Switch won’t be left out. In fact, there are rumors suggesting that more ports from Nintendo could be on the way, including a port of Kirby Planet Robobot. It will join titles like Donkey Kong Country HD as one of the ports from earlier Nintendo consoles.

Rumored Ports for Nintendo Switch

There have been rumors for years that Nintendo might have even more ports in the works. The rumored games include a remake of Fire Emblem 4, and ports of The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and Metroid Prime 2 and 3 Remastered. These games could fill the gap in the debut year of the Switch successor.

Of course, cross-generation games won’t be the only things available at launch. Nintendo needs to promote its new console, so they will likely announce 2-3 major exclusives for the Switch successor, along with many third-party ports. There are rumors that Capcom, Namco and Square Enix are among the supporters of Switch 2 at launch. This could mean games like Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and more could make their way to the Switch successor. They will probably remain exclusive to the new console as they are too demanding for the original Switch. Microsoft is also rumored to bring their exclusives like Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Flight Simulator 24 to the Switch successor.

Lack of Exclusives in Debut Year

One thing that is clear is that with all these big games and cross-platform releases, Nintendo will try to spread out their actual Switch 2 exclusives. The debut year might have 2-3 big games, just like the original Switch had Super Mario Odyssey along with Arms and Splatoon 2. However, the true Switch exclusives will likely take a year or two before they start appearing. At the start, be prepared to see a lot of cross-generation, cross-platform releases.

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Before diving into our top five picks for Game of the Year 2024, it’s important to acknowledge the challenges of crafting such a list. Narrowing down the year’s most exceptional games to just five entries inevitably sparked plenty of debate among our team. While it’s impossible to include every standout title, we’re happy with our final selections. These games represent the creativity and dedication of the developers and publishers who made 2024 a great year for gaming.

#5. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Continuing the Yakuza franchise’s tradition of blending intense drama with quirky humor, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth offers a sprawling open-world experience in a vibrant new location. The game’s emotional character arcs, diverse side content, and overhauled turn-based combat resonated with us, making it one of the most memorable releases of the year for us.

#4. Metaphor: ReFantazio

This new RPG from the creators of Persona captivated us with its unique world-building and thought-provoking narrative. Metaphor: ReFantazio’s fusion of rich storytelling with intriguing dungeons and a strategic combat system brought joy to the role-playing game fans in us. Its imaginative art direction and atmospheric soundtrack further elevated its status as one of the finest games in the genre.

#3. Tekken 8

Tekken 8 earns its place on our top 5 list by effectively modernizing the long-running fighting game series, while also staying true to its roots. The new Heat System adds a fresh layer to the core gameplay, encouraging a more aggressive approach that makes matches a lot more exciting and unpredictable. The online mode has seen significant improvements over Tekken 7, thanks to the move to rollback netcode. Meanwhile, the story mode stands out for its cinematic flair and engaging narrative.

#2. Astro Bot

Astro Bot gets its place in the he platforming genre among the finest Mario titles. Its innovative gameplay and clever level design leverages the PS5’s technology, particularly its DualSense controller, to create an experience like no other. Its playful charm, creative mechanics, innovative level design, and its celebration of PlayStation’s 30-year history make it a standout title in a highly competitive year​.

#1. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth does full justice to the legacy of the 1997 original by  effectively re-imagining and expanding upon its characters and world. We’re huge fans of the game’s side activities, including the engaging side-quests and the varied mini-games.  The combat system is best-in-class for an action RPG, and we hope to see future mainline entries in the series take inspiration from it. Every aspect of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth comes together to solidify it as a masterpiece of the modern era and Twisted Voxel’s Game of the Year 2024 winner.

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As console and PC hardware continue to improve, each platform offers unique experiences that showcase its strengths, and 2024 is no different. Regardless of where we played, this year delivered a strong lineup of games that resonated with us.

Best PlayStation Game: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

As the second chapter of Square Enix’s ambitious remake project, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth builds on the strong foundation of Final Fantasy VII Remake, bringing a much broader, more visually breathtaking world filled with an abundance of mini-games and other open-world activities. Its expanded narrative re-imagines the classic story while keeping fans curious about its mysterious deviations from the original narrative. The introduction of Synergy skills and abilities elevates the already stellar combat system, enabling seamless cooperation between characters and adding an additional layer of strategy.

Runner-up: Astro Bot

Honorable Mention: Helldivers 2

Best Nintendo Game: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom cements itself as the most engaging and rewarding Nintendo Switch game of 2024. It introduces an expansive overworld filled with secrets, intricate puzzles, and dynamic gameplay systems. The addition of a new companion system allows players to solve challenges cooperatively with iconic allies, adding a fresh spin on exploration and combat. The heartfelt narrative, unique mechanics, and the kind of imaginative world design Nintendo is known for makes Echoes of Wisdom our favorite Switch game of 2024..

Runner-up: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Honorable Mention: Mario & Luigi: Brothership

Best Xbox Game: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle brings a great blend of storytelling, exploration, and cinematic action, channeling the essence of the iconic archaeologist while introducing a fresh narrative set during the Cold War. The game’s puzzle-solving, artifact hunting, and adrenaline-pumping action sequences ensure a thrilling experience reminiscent of the classic film series. The tight pacing and robust character development breathe new life into Indiana Jones, giving the franchise relevance in the interactive medium.

Runner-up: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Honorable Mention: Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2

Best PC Game: UFO 50

UFO 50 is a love letter to retro gaming, wrapped in an innovative package that celebrates creativity and variety. This unique anthology features 50 meticulously crafted mini-games, each showcasing its own mechanics, genres, and visual styles. From fast-paced platformers to quirky puzzle games and story-driven adventures, UFO 50 offers endless surprises filled with creativity, experimentation, and a remarkable degree of polish. The games are united by a shared fictional history, making the anthology a cohesive and nostalgic experience that stood out for us on PC in 2024.

Runner-up: Satisfactory

Honorable Mention: Tactical Breach Wizards

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2024 has been an incredible year for video games, offering something noteworthy in every genre. From psychological horror to thrilling action and innovative VR experiences, the industry’s best titles have kept us busy throughout the year. Here’s a closer look at the standout games that defined this year, earning their places as the Best in Genre for 2024.

Best Horror Game: Silent Hill 2

The long-anticipated remake of Silent Hill 2 surpassed our expectations, as developer Bloober Team delivered a psychological horror experience that largely stayed true to the original’s haunting story, while uplifting its atmospheric visuals and gameplay for modern audiences. The subtle narrative tweaks and environmental storytelling deepened protagonist James Sunderland’s journey, making it a standout in 2024’s horror lineup​.

Runner-up: Slitterhead

Honorable Mention: A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead

Best Action Game: Stellar Blade

Stellar Blade’s stylish and over-the-top action instantly resonated with us, and its intense, fast-paced combat kept us hooked across multiple playthroughs. The game successfully delivers fluid hack-and-slash mechanics wrapped in a vibrant sci-fi aesthetic. Protagonist Eve sports a worthwhile arsenal of weapons that allow for varied playstyles.

Runner-up: Black Myth: Wukong

Honorable Mention: Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2

Best Action-Adventure Game: Astro Bot

Team Asobi’s Astro Bot is a triumphant platformer that’s worth celebrating not only for its nostalgic nods to PlayStation’s history but also for its creative level design and game mechanics. It also makes the best use of the PS5’s DualSense controller thus far, making it integral to the experience.

Runner-up: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Honorable Mention: The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Best Fighting Game: Tekken 8

Tekken 8 brings the iconic fighting franchise to new heights, combining its signature high-octane battles with cutting-edge graphics and refined mechanics, reaffirming to us its status as a pillar of the fighting game community. The game’s new Heat System adds a new twist to the flow of classic Tekken matches by rewarding aggressive playstyles. Meanwhile, the over-the-top story mode, which delves into the Mishima saga’s explosive conclusion, is also worthy of praise for its cinematic presentation.

Runner-up: Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising

Honorable Mention: Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero

Best Sports Game: EA Sports FC 25

The latest entry in EA’s football series retains its commitment to realism by incorporating smoother animations, enhanced AI, and expanded player customization options. The addition of women’s leagues further broadens its appeal, making it the definitive sports game of the year.

Runner-up: WWE 2K24

Honorable Mention: EA Sports College Football 25

Best RPG: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth continues the ambitious reimagining of the classic JRPG, offering a sprawling open world, engaging side quests, and a more refined and fluid combat system. With its bold narrative changes deeper exploration of beloved characters, and memorable soundtrack, it has solidified its place as our pick for best RPG of 2024.

Runner-up: Metaphor: ReFantazio

Honorable Mention: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Best First-Person Shooter: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

This year’s Call of Duty installment stands out with its gripping campaign, new omnimovement system, and an engaging multiplayer mode, ensuring its dominance in the FPS genre.

Runner-up: Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Honorable Mention: S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Best Indie Game: Balatro

Balatro’s clever mechanics, unique humor, minimalist design, and replayability resonated with us. In a year dominated by big-budget releases, our staff spent a considerable amount of time engaged with the game’s fun challenges.

Runner-up: UFO 50

Honorable Mention: Animal Well

Best VR Game: Batman: Arkham Shadow

Batman: Arkham Shadow effectively brings the Dark Knight’s detective work, stealth mechanics, and visceral combat over to VR in satisfying and immersive ways, thanks in part to its intuitive controls, making it the standout VR game of 2024 for us.

Runner-up: Asgard’s Wrath 2

Honorable Mention: Arizona Sunshine Remake

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Microsoft announced that, starting July 10, 2024, new members subscribing to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and 12-month subscriptions to Game Pass Core will see updated prices (see here for details). This change aims to align the subscription costs more closely with the value provided and market conditions. The price hike is accompanied by changes to subscription tiers that hurt the service’s potential and make things needlessly confusing.

The decision to end the basic Xbox Game Pass tier for Console has stripped the service of a meaningful option. While existing subscribers with automatic payment renewal enabled can continue their memberships, they will only be able to do so until September 18, 2024. It’s possible to further extend this by up to 13 months via redeemable Xbox Game Pass for Console codes. As such, the basic Xbox Game Pass tier for Console will ultimately be phased out for everyone.

This particular tier did not grant access to online multiplayer, and was a worthwhile option for those who only wished to explore the single-player offerings in the Game Pass catalog of titles. In the coming months, or possibly up to 13 months after September 18, 2024, those who preferred the basic Xbox Game Pass tier for Console will have no choice but to opt for the new Xbox Game Pass Standard tier, which will grant access to the Game Pass catalog and include all the benefits of Game Pass Core, such as online multiplayer and select member deals and discounts. However, there’s a catch, and a pretty major one. The Xbox Game Pass Standard tier will not provide day one access to games and specific entries to the catalog. For the aforementioned perks, as well as access to EA Play, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and discounts on games in the Game Pass library, Xbox console users will have to opt for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Microsoft appears to have taken a page out of EA’s book and molded its subscription service into one that more closely follows the EA Access model. After the restructured Xbox Game Pass tiers are in effect, there will be three game catalogs with varying degree of access to games depending on how much you choose to pay. The primary charm of Xbox Game Pass and its game catalog was day one access to all first party and a decent serving of third party games, and that has now become exclusive to the most expensive tier. It goes without saying that this change is undeniably the outcome of the software giant’s decision to make Call of Duty titles available day one on the service.

Adding further ambiguity to this change is Microsoft’s lack of clarification over the time period a game will remain exclusively available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate after its launch. There is are no details on whether this will vary from game to game, or whether there will be a fixed delay for all day one releases to make their way to Xbox Game Pass Standard. For now, all we know is that they “may” be added to the latter tier’s library “at a future date”.

Ultimately, with this restructuring, Microsoft has stripped console Xbox Game Pass subscribers of choice, forcing them to reconsider the value proposition of the service. Meanwhile, those who aren’t interested in the Game Pass catalog to begin with will have no choice but to continue subscribing to Xbox Game Pass Core in order to retain the ability to play online.

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Recently, The Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft plans a major shakeup of its video game sales strategy by releasing the next entry in the Call of Duty series to Xbox Game Pass at launch instead of Activision’s prior approach of having the popular first-person shooter series only being available for purchase. Xbox president Sara Bond admitted as much during an earlier interview with Bloomberg, as she said that games from across Microsoft’s whole slate will become a part of Xbox Game Pass on the day of their release. While day one releases are nothing new for Xbox Game Pass users, it’s the availability of Call of Duty that will be a pivotal moment for the subscription service.

1. Best Selling Title Each Year

Call of Duty has proven time and again to be one of the most successful franchises in gaming history. Each annual release finds its way to the top of sales charts, and it continues to sell even after the release of the next big title in the series. There’s no denying the pull Activision’s first-person shooter series has on the gaming community. Having a game of this degree of popularity and commercial worth appear day one on a subscription service can potentially change the way people choose to consume their games as well as their choice of platform.

2. GAAS Model Is Ideal For Subscription Services

It’s no secret that live service games offer long-term engagement with the community, and it’s these kind of games that have the potential to greatly benefit a game subscription service like Xbox Game Pass. A Call of Duty game will continue to drive new users with a healthy dose of content updates.

3. Battle Pass & Cosmetics Revenue

By removing the barrier of having to spend $70 on the latest Call of Duty title, Microsoft will expect a larger influx of subscribers willing to engage with the game’s live service element. There will be lost sales, but the idea is that the live service revenue will more than make up for it, and that’s not even counting the monthly subscription fee that a user will continue to pay over time.

4. Additional Revenue Via New Subscription Tier & Pricing

According to rumors, Microsoft is looking to revise Xbox Game Pass pricing and tiers with the addition of the Call of Duty franchise to its game catalog. Currently, the lower tier of the subscription service, Xbox Game Pass Core, is available for $9.99 a month, and the higher tier, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, is available for $16.99 a month. These tiers are expected to be rebranded and their prices are expected to increase. This will present an additional avenue for the company to generate revenue from each subscriber.

5. Game Pass Exclusive Seasonal Content & Perks

While Microsoft had previously stated that that the Call of Duty experience would be the same across all platforms it is available on, it isn’t beyond the realm of possibility for the company to sneak in some exclusive seasonal cosmetics, such as weapon charms, weapons skins, and character skins. Meanwhile, other seasonal content such as new maps and weapons would be made available across all platforms. Furthermore, the company may offers additional perks to Xbox Game Pass subscribers, such as a higher number of weapon loadout slots and double XP tokens.

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The Ninja Theory developed action adventure game, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, is a little over a week away from its release, and the marketing team at Xbox has done little to build interest in the game among gaming audiences. It is currently sitting at #233 in the global Steam best sellers list and at #62 in the list of top wishlisted titles on the platform. This is despite the game launching at a price of $49.99.

For what it’s worth, the company has featured the game on the Xbox store, and the official Xbox Twitter/X account has been sharing the video features Ninja Theory has been posting on various aspects of the game on its YouTube channel. However, it clearly isn’t enough, as evident from the level of interest seen on Steam. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, the next major first-party release from Xbox, is about to hit store shelves, but the hype surrounding the game remains lukewarm. With what little time left until the game’s launch, one would hope that the forthcoming “big global and regional marketing plans”, as Vice President of Xbox Games Marketing Aaron Greenberg puts it, will improve things.

A number of different factors may have contributed to Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 ranking low on the Steam best sellers list. For starters, it is a graphically demanding Unreal Engine 5 game that shows off the engine’s features better than any other game so far. As such, the average user may not be playing on a PC equipped to handle its hardware requirements. Additionally, the game’s regional pricing isn’t particularly great, which is another reason why some players may have been discouraged from purchasing it.

Furthermore, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 being available on Xbox Game Pass will almost certainly reduce the game’s sales potential. Given its relatively shorter length of about eight hours, it’s the ideal game for a subscription service from a consumer standpoint. However, from Microsoft’s perspective, certainly after the Tango Gameworks closure, it appears that live service games such as Fallout 76 and Sea of Thieves that offer long-term engagement are more valuable for its subscription service. It’s possibly why, despite being critically acclaimed and being appreciated by the Xbox community, a game like Hi-Fi Rush no longer aligned with the company’s future plans.

Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, mentioned in an email to employees that the company is now looking to prioritize “high-impact” titles and “identify the opportunities that are best positioned for success.” Similarly, Xbox president Sara Bond talked about identifying industry trends and transitioning towards them during her recent interview with Bloomberg. She also highlighted the rising costs associated with making big budget games and the increasing amount of time it takes to make them.

So, why does all of this cast a doubt over the future of developer Ninja Theory? A lot depends on Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2’s commercial success and engagement trends, which, in turn, will determine the viability of the studio’s next project. It’s no secret that the game has been in the works for several years, which means that its development cost is undoubtedly much higher than that of something like Hi-Fi Rush. Microsoft is reportedly planning further cost-cutting even after shutting down four of Bethesda’s studios, which may entail the closure of additional first-party development teams that aren’t aligned with the opportunities and trends it wishes to pursue.

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