Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsHellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice won The Game Awards’ Games for Impact award in 2017 for a dark fantasy story that brought attention to psychosis. Its recognition reflected not a claim that a game could reproduce mental illness faithfully, but Ninja Theory’s research-informed effort to bring players closer to experiences described by people with lived experience.
What did Hellblade win, and why?
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice received The Game Awards’ Games for Impact award in 2017. The University of York’s Research Excellence Framework impact submission describes the award as recognition of the game’s profound social messages: it used a fictional journey to engage players with psychosis and mental health.
The story follows Senua, a Celtic warrior who travels to Hel in a dark fantasy world. Xbox describes the game as both that mythic journey and an exploration of Senua’s psychosis. The award recognized the impact of that approach, rather than establishing the game as a clinical account of psychosis.
How did Ninja Theory research its portrayal of psychosis?
Ninja Theory drew on both scientific expertise and lived experience. In an Xbox article published 3 May 2021, studio head Dominic Matthews said: “It was critical that our exploration of this subject was grounded in research, and as such our development team collaborated closely with those in both the science and lived-experience communities.” The people involved included individuals who experience voice hearing, visions, and unusual beliefs.
#1 Best Overall
- Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions through haptic feedback
- Experience varying levels of force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers
- Chat online through the built-in microphone and connect a headset directly through the 3.5mm jack
- Switch voice capture on and off using the dedicated mute button
- Play on more devices using the USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth to connect easily to Windows PC and Mac computers, Android and iOS mobile phones as well as your PlayStation 5
That input informed the game’s portrayal, but it does not make Senua representative of everyone who experiences psychosis. The story is a particular fictional character’s experience, shaped for a game.
Did the creators claim the game faithfully represents mental illness?
No. Ninja Theory’s creative director Tameem Antoniades made that limitation clear in a PlayStation Blog development diary published 24 August 2015: “In all likelihood it can never be faithfully represented, but we feel that games can get us closer than other media.”
Rank #2
- Bring gaming worlds to life - Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback*. Experience varying force and tension at your fingertips with adaptive triggers*
- Find your voice, share your passion - Chat online through the built-in microphone. Connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack. Record and broadcast your epic gaming moments with the create button
- A gaming icon in your hands - Enjoy a comfortable, evolved design with an iconic layout and enhanced sticks. Hear higher-fidelity** sound effects through the built-in speaker in supported games
- Multi-device connectivity - Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth technology and easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range of blockbuster PC titles.
That distinction is central to understanding the game’s ambition. Its research and collaboration were intended to support an emotionally involving portrayal, not to simulate psychosis exactly or stand in for professional guidance.
What impact was reported beyond the award?
A University of Cambridge UK Impact Map page added 21 November 2022 reported that the game had sold more than 1.5 million copies in 18 languages and raised more than £60,000 for mental health. These are figures reported on that dated page, not verified current totals. The page also described a scholarship with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
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Rank #3
- Haptic feedback - Feel physically responsive feedback to your in-game actions with dual actuators which replace traditional rumble motors. In your hands, these dynamic vibrations can simulate the feeling of everything from environments to the recoil of different weapons. .Operating temperature : 41 °F to 95 °F (5 °C to 35 °C)
- Adaptive triggers - Experience varying levels of force and tension as you interact with your in-game gear and environments. From pulling back an increasingly tight bowstring to hitting the brakes on a speeding car, feel physically connected to your on-screen actions.
- Built-in microphone and headset jack - Chat with friends online using the built-in microphone or by connecting a headset to the 3.5mm jack. Easily switch voice capture on and off at a moment’s notice with the dedicated mute button. Internet and account for PlayStation Network required.
- DualSense Controller PS5 and PC compatible. Not compatible with PS4.
- PS Remote Play requires Remote Play App connected to Wi-Fi, PS4 or PS5 console with the latest system software and compatible game. A PS4 or PS5 console with a wired connection via a LAN cable is recommended. Version 4.0 of the Remote Play App on iOS and iPadOS or version 4.1 on macOS is required for games to be playable with the controller over Bluetooth.
The same Cambridge page states that about 1 in every 100 people will experience a psychotic episode in their lifetime. It does not give the year of the underlying estimate, so this should be understood as the page’s cited figure, not a newly verified prevalence estimate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where was Hellblade released?
According to Xbox’s account, the game launched in 2017 for PlayStation and PC and later came to Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and VR. That platform list reflects Xbox’s historical account; it is not a current storefront or availability check.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Heighten Your Senses. Discover Deeper, highly immersive gaming experiences.
- Feel your in-game actions and environment simulated through haptic feedback
- Chat online through the built-in microphone or connect a headset directly via the 3.5mm jack
- Play on more devices Connect using a USB Type-C cable or Bluetooth wireless technology so you can easily play on more devices including Windows PC and Mac computers, Android and iOS mobile phones.
- Elevate PC gaming with advanced features like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers in a range titles
Rank #4
- Ultra Customizable Controls
- Mappable Back Buttons
- DualSense Wireless Controller Features Built In
- Replaceable Stick Modules and Caps
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