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Xbox exclusive with best graphics ever is getting enhanced on PS5 Pro

Xbox exclusive with best graphics ever is getting enhanced on PS5 Pro

Metro21-05-2025
Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 is the latest first party Xbox game to come to the PS5 and this time a special effort is being made with its already excellent graphics.
The annoucement of previously exclusive Xbox games coming to PlayStation 5 is becoming increasingly commonplace but so far none of them have been anything more than straightforward ports, with no enhancements or additions beyond DualSense support.
A PlayStation 5 version of Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 was rumoured earlier in the year (along with an already confirmed version of Gears Of War) but according to Microsoft it will be optimised for both the standard PlayStation 5 and the more powerful PS5 Pro.
They're currently being vague as to what difference this will make but it will coincide with a free update for Xbox Series X/S and PC that will add new features to all versions of the game.
As we explored in our original review, Hellblade 2 isn't a very good video game, but it does have perhaps the best graphics ever seen in a console title, at least in terms of photorealism.
Things can always be improved though, especially with the benefit of hindsight, and the PS5 Pro is the most powerful console ever made, even if its abilities haven't really been stretched so far.
Unfortunately, the annoucement of Hellblade 2 for PlayStation 5 is vague across the board, with the release date confirmed only as sometime this summer.
That means It will likely appear as part of the Xbox summer showcase, on June 8, although that's not entirely guaranteed as Microsoft continues to be very reticent about talking about multiformat releases in public.
Not only that but the pretence of supporting the Switch 2 has so far added up to nothing at all and Hellblade 2 is also not coming to Nintendo's new console, although in this case it is unlikely the Switch 2 could handle the game and have it look anywhere near as good as the Xbox version. More Trending
That said, the original Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice was released on both PlayStation 4 and Switch, before Microsoft bought developer Ninja Theory in 2018.
As the developers point out on their website, the studio got its first big break working on PlayStation 3 exclusive Heavenly Sword, back in 2007.
There had been some concern that Hellblade 2 had performed poorly on Xbox and PC, in terms of sales and Game Pass usage, and that it might put Ninja Theory at risk of being shut down.
But not only are they working on a horror project codenamed Project: Mara, they're also helping out with Microsoft's attempts to use generative AI in video games.
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For more stories like this, check our Gaming page.
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The Nintendo Partner Direct left me wondering: where's the ambition?
The Nintendo Partner Direct left me wondering: where's the ambition?

Metro

time5 hours ago

  • Metro

The Nintendo Partner Direct left me wondering: where's the ambition?

A reader is disappointed by the recent Partner Direct and worries the Nintendo and third party publishers are already playing it safe on Switch 2. I tuned into the July 31 Nintendo Partner Direct with cautious optimism. The Switch 2 is out, the gaming landscape is shifting, and I was ready to be wowed. Instead, I walked away feeling deflated. What should have been a showcase of bold new directions and creative risks felt more like a safe, predictable parade of sequels, remakes, and ports. If this is Nintendo's vision for the future of its hybrid console dynasty, then I'm worried they're coasting on goodwill rather than pushing boundaries. Let's start with the obvious: Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection. Sure, it's a new entry in a beloved series, and the cinematic teaser hinted at a darker tone. But no gameplay? No innovation teased beyond a vague 'new story arc'? It felt like Capcom was banking on nostalgia and brand recognition rather than showing us why this game deserves to exist on a next gen platform. Then there was Octopath Traveler 0, Square Enix's latest HD-2D offering. I love the aesthetic, I really do. But we've seen this style multiple times now. The town-building mechanic and character customisation are welcome additions, but they don't scream 'next gen'. They whisper 'safe sequel'. It's a prequel, too – another sign that publishers are more interested in mining existing IP than forging new ones. Just Dance 2026, EA Sports FC 26, Madden NFL 26 – these are annualised franchises that feel more like contractual obligations than creative endeavours. Their inclusion in the Direct made the whole thing feel like a corporate checklist rather than a celebration of gaming artistry. Even Plants Vs. Zombies: Replanted, while charming, is a remake. And Pac-Man World Re-Pac 2? Another remake. Where's the originality? I kept waiting for that one surprise. That, 'one more thing'. But it never came. Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment was probably the closest we got to something intriguing – a canonical prequel to Tears Of The Kingdom sounds promising. But again, it's a spin-off of a spin-off. And while I appreciate the lore expansion, it's still rooted in existing material. Even the indie offerings felt muted. The Adventures Of Elliot: The Millennium Tales had potential, with its HD-2D action role-playing flair, but it didn't feel like a game that could define the Switch 2 era. It felt like filler. And Chillin' By The Fire? Cozy, yes. But ambitious? Not remotely. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. What frustrates me most is that this was a Partner Showcase, not a mainline Nintendo Direct. So, I get it – no Mario, no Zelda, no Metroid Prime 4. But even within the third party space, there's room for boldness. Where's the weird, the experimental, the genre defying? Where's the spirit of the Switch's early years, when every Direct felt like a treasure hunt? Instead, this Direct felt like Nintendo and its partners are playing it safe. Maybe too safe. The Switch 2 is supposed to usher in a new era, but this showcase felt like a continuation of the old one. And that's the problem. Nintendo seems content to ride the wave of the Switch's success without truly challenging itself – or us. More Trending I want to believe that the Switch 2 has more to offer than prettier ports and sequels. I want to see games that couldn't exist on the original Switch. I want to be surprised, delighted, and maybe even confused. That's what Nintendo used to do best. But right now? It feels like they're coasting. And if they don't shake things up soon, the Switch 2 might end up being remembered, not for its innovation, but for its complacency. By reader BaldB3lper The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Why is Sony trying to kill the concept of the video game console? - Reader's Feature MORE: The Nintendo Switch 2 is the closest thing to a modern day Commodore Amiga – Reader's Feature MORE: Star Wars Outlaws is Ubisoft's best game and you should get it now it's cheap - Reader's Feature

Excelling in … Excel? Inside the high-stakes, secretive world of competitive spreadsheeting
Excelling in … Excel? Inside the high-stakes, secretive world of competitive spreadsheeting

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Excelling in … Excel? Inside the high-stakes, secretive world of competitive spreadsheeting

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It might sound silly, but Excel is an incredibly sophisticated application – according to the documentary, the average person uses only 10-15% of its capabilities, but would-be competitors are required to understand closer to 70% of what it can do. The competition is built and run by Certiport, a performance-based examination provider, and officially endorsed by Microsoft. It's a two-parter: the first half tests proficiency in formulas, functions and features through a series of complex questions, graded on both accuracy and speed. The second section is a more creative application of this knowledge – as Kraskov puts it, 'understanding the story of the data, or the soul of what it is actually telling you'. The championship has run since 2002 and is open to students between the ages of 13 and 22. Each competitor first has to qualify as the best in their home country. 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Each contestant has personality quirks which shine through in the film – from the camera-shy and stereotypically 'nerdy' to the charismatic and boisterous. 'Our intention is really about how amazing this competition is – we're not here to make fun of or disparage anyone,' Kraskov says. Kraskov and the film's producer, Anna Charalambous, spent about a week with each competitor in their home country, observing their day-to-day lives, from home to school, and spending time with their family and friends. 'People reveal themselves a lot if you just pay attention to how they live their lives,' Kraskov says. 'Teenagers are not quite fully formed adults yet, so they don't really connect things about themselves or their personalities – they just live their lives. The parents were so insightful and knowledgable about their kids – it gave us a lot of information about how they would potentially thrive or struggle, and who they really were.' Many of the contest's specifics are shrouded in secrecy, which posed another challenge for the film-makers. The competition is overseen by a man named – in a wonderful example of nominative determinism – Bing. 'It's so high-level security,' Kraskov says. 'Bing eventually trusted us and gave us questions that would be retired … At the end of the day, he has to deliver a hardcore, secure, world-expert level exam the next year, and our priority is to show the complexity of what it is and what they're doing.' Participating in the MOS Championship can set these kids up for adult life. Carmina, the Guatemalan competitor, is now 18 and studying mechatronics engineering at university. In the film, she is shown as a bubbly, bright teenager who loves One Direction (she still does) and excels at, well, Excel. Watching the documentary transported Carmina back to the competition and her younger self – and made her realise what she took from the experience. 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Why is Sony trying to kill the concept of the video game console?
Why is Sony trying to kill the concept of the video game console?

Metro

time10 hours ago

  • Metro

Why is Sony trying to kill the concept of the video game console?

A reader worries that Sony's plans to make more of their games multiformat will destroy the entire concept of consoles, as they follow the same path as Xbox. At this point I think it's clear that Xbox is dead. They're the biggest publishers in the West but at such a terrible cost it's almost poetic. No one's buying their hardware and no one is ever likely to again. All the famous Xbox exclusive franchises are not only about to be not exclusive but they're just one more disaster away from being dead franchises. Xbox basically doesn't exist anymore, the way it used to be. All it is, is the combination of Activision Blizzard and Bethesda. Everything else is an insignificant extra, that will probably end up being shut down in short order. 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Sure, they will make more money in the short term, but in the long term… there will be no long term if they destroy the whole concept of a video game console. If you want to play Xbox games now you've got two choices: buy a dying console that Xbox aren't even bothering to sell in some countries now or play them on PC or streaming. Microsoft make money out of this, of course, but they have no control over those formats and so they become just like any other publisher, like EA or Ubisoft. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. There are two basic reasons to buy a console: the lack of fuss and bother (and generally lower price) compared to a PC and the exclusive games. I have long said that Sony releasing their exclusives on PC is a mistake because while you get some short term cash from it you're eating away at the reason anyone would buy a console in the first place. But now we hear that the August release of Helldivers 2 on Xbox Series X/S is not going to be a one-off, that Sony wants to release more games on Xbox and Nintendo Switch. Anything to make the smallest amount of extra money now, even if it means destroying their future forever. Is Sony short of cash or something? Are their financials so bad they have to do the corporate equivalent of going to the pawn shop to make it to the end of the week? Not as far as I know, but that's what they're doing anyway. There seems no point me even complaining at this point, as not only are they obviously not going to listen to me or any other fan but it seems to late. Sony had two choices when Microsoft messed up: go all out to show how good the PlayStation 5 and its line-up of exclusives is or… just sort of roll up and die for no reason. And yes, I know the PlayStation 5 is still selling well but that's because it's the only game in town at the moment, now the Xbox Series X/S has gone to an early grave. But every year the PC becomes more and more popular and that's only going to accelerate as one of the main reasons to buy a console is removed. It's not the end of gaming or anything – third party games will be unaffected – but the sort of exclusive games that Sony used to make are going to become rarer and rarer. They already are but when they don't need them to show off their console, and act like a killer app, they'll just keep reducing the budgets and the number of them they make until they don't bother at all. More Trending In the end, Sony will become a third party publisher too and even more choice and variety will be removed from the games industry. By reader Dunbar The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: The Nintendo Switch 2 is the closest thing to a modern day Commodore Amiga – Reader's Feature MORE: Star Wars Outlaws is Ubisoft's best game and you should get it now it's cheap - Reader's Feature MORE: It is madness that Konami still hasn't made a new Castlevania - Reader's Feature

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