Ninja Theory scraps Project Mara for new Hellblade game

Ninja Theory has cancelled Project Mara, its experimental horror game, to focus its entire 85-person team on Senua, the third instalment in the Hellblade series, according to studio head Dom Matthews. The announcement came alongside the surprise reveal of Senua at the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 on 8 June.

Why Project Mara was cancelled

According to Matthews, the decision to cancel Project Mara wasn't taken lightly. "Given that the entire team is working on [Senua], I suspect some will wonder what happened to Project Mara," Matthews explained in an Xbox Wire post. "I made the decision to no longer work on that. Such decisions are never easy, but I did it to seize the opportunity to bring together all the talent and expertise of the studio — all 85 creative staff — to realise the potential of what Senua can be."

The cancellation allows Ninja Theory to pursue a more gameplay-driven approach to the Hellblade series. This represents the first time since DmC: Devil May Cry in 2013 that the studio's complete team has worked on a single project.

What Project Mara was meant to be

Project Mara was first announced in January 2020 as "a realistic and reality-based representation of mental terror." The experimental title aimed to accurately portray the horrors of the mind, drawing from real-life experiences and extensive research. The game was planned to take place in an extremely detailed, photorealistic apartment setting.

Ninja Theory described the project as a showcase of what a new storytelling medium could become. However, the studio was simultaneously working on Hellblade 2 and the unsuccessful multiplayer brawler Bleeding Edge at the time of Project Mara's announcement.

What this means for Senua

The consolidation of resources signals Ninja Theory's commitment to creating a more ambitious Hellblade experience. While Project Mara explored experimental territory, Senua will continue the series' established themes around mental health and psychological horror. The new trailer maintains the franchise's signature element of whispering voices in Senua's head, confirming the continuation of psychosis as a fundamental gameplay and narrative component.

Matthews confirmed that Senua will contain familiar "themes" from previous Hellblade games, suggesting the studio will build upon the foundation established in the earlier instalments while expanding the scope with their full development team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Project Mara cancelled?

Ninja Theory cancelled Project Mara to allow its entire 85-person team to focus on the development of Senua, the third game in the Hellblade series. Studio head Dom Matthews made this decision to consolidate all talent and expertise on one ambitious project.

What was Project Mara supposed to be?

Project Mara was an experimental horror game announced in January 2020. It aimed to be a realistic portrayal of mental terror, set in a photorealistic apartment and based on real-life experiences and research into psychological horror.

When will Senua be released?

No specific release date has been announced for Senua. The game was revealed as a surprise announcement at Xbox Games Showcase 2026, with Ninja Theory now dedicating their full development team to the project.

Is this the first time Ninja Theory's full team worked together?

No, this marks the first time since DmC: Devil May Cry in 2013 that Ninja Theory's complete development team has worked on a single project. Previously, the studio split resources across multiple games including Hellblade 2, Project Mara, and Bleeding Edge.

Will Senua continue the Hellblade series themes?

Yes, studio head Dom Matthews confirmed that Senua will contain familiar themes from the Hellblade series. The game will continue exploring mental health topics and psychological elements, including the signature whispering voices mechanic.

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