We've been getting a bunch of Hellblade-related news today as part of the first Xbox hands-on previews for Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, and buried within there is the news that one of Ninja Theory's co-founders has left the company.
Tameem Antoniades, who also directed the first Hellblade back in 2017, was surprisingly absent at the recent hands-on event, which led to a confirmation from Xbox that he had departed the studio. No specific reason was given, however.
"On my visit, there was no sign or mention of Ninja Theory’s flamboyant founder and Hellblade writer-director Tameem Antoniades. An Xbox spokesperson later confirmed to Polygon that he is no longer with the studio."
Antoniades was said to have been involved with Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 in its early stages, but now the game has three creative leads in the form of environment art director Dan Attwell, visual effects director Mark Slater-Tunstill and audio director David Garcia.
In addition to directing the first Hellblade, Tameem Antoniades also played in big role in various other Ninja Theory titles, such as directing DmC: Devil May Cry and being part of the writing team for Xbox 360 gem Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. Along with Nina Kristensen and Mike Ball, he founded Ninja Theory back in March 2000, with the company known back then as "Just Add Monsters" until it rebranded in 2004.
Thoughts on this news? What did you think of the first Hellblade game? Tell us in the comments section.
[source polygon.com]
Comments 10
Lots of people saying he left years ago 🤷♂️
Another Xbox game going wrong behind the scenes? Is his departure the reason the game has taken so long?
@Benjamin I wouldn't doubt it. Matt Booty seems to be pretty a$$ at retaining talent or keeping anyone on any semblance of a schedule
Where is he now, retired or working somewhere else?
@Nyne11Tyme booty last name might be fitting
They all leave to create a new studio the same year … idk why that’s legal because they can basically take other Connect’s within Xbox with them and create issues
@TheSimulator hey now...I put a lot of effort into making that inconspicuous lol
To me, turnover happens in the gaming industry. I don't know how that makes news. AAA games are made by 100's of people. It is a team effort not an individual effort.
Especially now that the industry is consolidating there is bound to be people that don't like consolidation, think the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, and just get paid so much that they don't need/want to work anymore. It happens in every industry.
The guy went from an artist in a little indie studio to a multimillionaire…he just left to have a good time with that money! No conspiracy, or Xbox has mismanagement issues or any of that…
@K1LLEGAL He has been gone at least prior to Gamescom last August. The Senua actress says so herself in an interview at Gamescom (and it did not appear to be news even then). She was working with a new director for the game, who you see in other "behind the scenes" footage. The media is using it for controversy clicks now that the game is near.
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