Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 is confirmed to run at 30 FPS without a Performance Mode on Xbox Series X/S, potentially disappointing fans seeking more flexibility on the console.

The sequel to Ninja Theory’s acclaimed Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is set to release on May 21, 2024, as a day one addition to Xbox Game Pass, marking it as a major first-party Xbox release for the year.

Mark Slater-Tunstill, VFX director of Hellblade 2, disclosed to GamePro (via IGN) that the game will maintain a 30 FPS lock with dynamic resolution on Xbox Series X/S, ruling out a Performance Mode option for gamers. This limitation, however, will not affect the PC version of the game. The decision to cap the frame rate on consoles is intended to enhance the game's cinematic feel, although the reason behind this choice related to the Xbox Series S hardware limitations remains undisclosed.

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 Will Operate at 30 FPS On Xbox Series X/S

While a 30 FPS restriction for console games is not uncommon, it can be disheartening for certain fans. Notably, the Xbox exclusive Redfall also faced a similar limitation to 30 FPS, resulting in a troubled launch with lingering issues.

Despite the frame rate restriction, Microsoft is optimistic about the success of Hellblade 2. Internal reviews of the game have been remarkably positive, with mock reviews within Microsoft reportedly yielding an average score of 90.

The 30 FPS constraint on consoles is not the sole recent controversy surrounding Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. Earlier this year, rumors circulated about the game potentially coming to PS5, but prominent Xbox insiders debunked these speculations. While Microsoft has expanded its game library to other platforms with titles like Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, and Sea of Thieves, these were older games, unlike the situation with Hellblade 2, as stated by Head of Xbox Phil Spencer.