Hellblade Developer Ninja Theory Has Cancelled Project Mara

Ninja Theory has announced that Project Mara, its experimental horror game, has been cancelled. Senua, the third game in Ninja Theory's Hellblade series, was one of the surprise announcements coming out of Xbox Games Showcase 2026. But with the emergence of Senua comes confirmation that the Microsoft-owned studio's other game is dead. In a new Xbox Wire post discussing the announcement of Senua, Ninja Theory studio head Dom Matthews addressed the fate of Project Mara. “With the fact that we have the entire team working on [Senua], I suspect some people might ask what's happened to Project Mara,” said Matthews. “I took the decision to not work on that any further. 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.” Senua marks the first time that the entire Ninja Theory staff roster has worked on the same project since 2013’s DmC: Devil May Cry. As a result, the developer is creating a more expansive, gameplay-driven take on the Hellblade series, but that required sacrificing its more experimental game. Project Mara was announced back in January 2020, at a time when Ninja Theory was also working on both Hellblade 2 and its ill-fated multiplayer brawler, Bleeding Edge. The project was described as a “real-world and grounded representation of mental terror. Based on real lived experience accounts and in-depth research, the goal is to recreate the horrors of the mind as accurately and realistically as possible. Project: Mara will be an experimental title and a showcase of what could become a new storytelling medium.” It was planned to take place in a deeply detailed, photo-realistic apartment. While Project Mara will no longer see the light of day, Senua will see Ninja Theory continue its exploration of mental health and the horrors of the mind. Psychosis was a fundamental part of the Hellblade games, and the new trailer still features the whispering voices in Senua’s head. Matthews also confirmed that Senua will feature familiar “themes." Ninja Theory’s cancelling of Project Mara confirms previous rumours, which had also claimed a new Hellblade was in development – all of which has now been proven true. For all of Microsoft's announcements, be sure to catch up with everything announced at Xbox Showcase 2026, including our best look yet at Fable and more. Matt Purslow is IGN's Executive Editor of Features.

Jun 8, 2026 - 17:58

Hellblade Developer Ninja Theory Has Cancelled Project Mara

Ninja Theory has announced that Project Mara, its experimental horror game, has been cancelled.

Senua, the third game in Ninja Theory's Hellblade series, was one of the surprise announcements coming out of Xbox Games Showcase 2026. But with the emergence of Senua comes confirmation that the Microsoft-owned studio's other game is dead.

In a new Xbox Wire post discussing the announcement of Senua, Ninja Theory studio head Dom Matthews addressed the fate of Project Mara.

“With the fact that we have the entire team working on [Senua], I suspect some people might ask what's happened to Project Mara,” said Matthews. “I took the decision to not work on that any further. 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.”

Senua marks the first time that the entire Ninja Theory staff roster has worked on the same project since 2013’s DmC: Devil May Cry. As a result, the developer is creating a more expansive, gameplay-driven take on the Hellblade series, but that required sacrificing its more experimental game.

Project Mara was announced back in January 2020, at a time when Ninja Theory was also working on both Hellblade 2 and its ill-fated multiplayer brawler, Bleeding Edge. The project was described as a “real-world and grounded representation of mental terror. Based on real lived experience accounts and in-depth research, the goal is to recreate the horrors of the mind as accurately and realistically as possible. Project: Mara will be an experimental title and a showcase of what could become a new storytelling medium.” It was planned to take place in a deeply detailed, photo-realistic apartment.

While Project Mara will no longer see the light of day, Senua will see Ninja Theory continue its exploration of mental health and the horrors of the mind. Psychosis was a fundamental part of the Hellblade games, and the new trailer still features the whispering voices in Senua’s head. Matthews also confirmed that Senua will feature familiar “themes."

Ninja Theory’s cancelling of Project Mara confirms previous rumours, which had also claimed a new Hellblade was in development – all of which has now been proven true. For all of Microsoft's announcements, be sure to catch up with everything announced at Xbox Showcase 2026, including our best look yet at Fable and more.

Matt Purslow is IGN's Executive Editor of Features.

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