Hellblade and Senua developer, Ninja Theory, has revealed that it has cancelled Project Mara, its experimental photorealistic horror title that was revealed in 2020.
In an interview on Xbox Wire, Ninja Theory Studio Head Dom Matthews explained that Senua, the studio’s third title in the series, requires all of the studio’s effort, with Project Mara suffering as a result.
“I suspect some people might ask what’s happened to Project Mara [a previously announced horror title] – I took the decision to not work on that any further,” Matthews explained. “These decisions are never easy, but I did so to take the opportunity to have all of the talent and expertise in the studio, all 85 creatives, working together to realize the potential of what Senua can be.”
When it was announced Project Mara was pitched as a revolutionary “real-world and grounded exploration of mental terror”, that would be “a showcase of what could become a new storytelling medium.”
Senua, which was announced at the Xbox Showcase at Summer Game Fest, is a departure from the slow-paced Hellblade titles. Described as an “out-and-out action-adventure game” by Matthews, the title will still star Senua as she continues to battle her psychosis.