Don't write off Hellblade 2 just because it's a digital-only Xbox release

Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 being a digital-only release is a shame, but Xbox fans shouldn't forgo what could be an excellent gaming experience simply because physical copies won't exist.

Opinion by Sean Carey

Published 21 Jan 2024

During the Xbox Developer Direct, we finally got a release date for Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 and news that the long-awaited sequel will be a digital-only release. While this is indeed disappointing, some Xbox fans claim they are willing to write off and fully boycott the game for that reason, which, in my eyes, is an even bigger shame.

Despite being a full-on digital convert (I haven't bought a single physical game for my Xbox Series X), I can understand the frustrations felt by those who do collect physical media when a big game doesn't get a physical release. With digital-only, you can't resell it, preservation (on console at least) is much harder, and there is a risk of losing an entire digital games library if a company shuts up shop. I would love it if all games were released in both formats, even more so when it's an Xbox first-party game like Hellblade 2. Having a choice is always great, but sadly, it looks like the days of physical media are numbered.

Here in the UK, the Entertainment Retailers Association revealed earlier this month that 89.5% of games sold in 2022 were digital downloads (30% of this was from mobile game sales), and the remaining 10.5% were physical copies (via BBC). This is echoed by publishers such as Capcom, which reported in its financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, that 89.4% of the publisher's game sales were digital. We also have industry analyst Mat Piscatella from Circana predicting that by 2028, digital-only will "be the norm for most Xbox and PlayStation releases." Physical is sadly dying out, and Microsoft will likely make the first move to being all-digital — we all saw Microsoft's leaked "adorably" all-digital Xbox Series X, right? Perhaps with digital-only games such as Hi-Fi Rush and Senua's Sacrifice: Hellblade 2, we're starting to see that shift.

I get why Xbox fans are upset over Hellblade 2's digital-only release; it sucks for sure, but boycotting what looks to be a stellar sequel simply because you can't get it on a disc, feels a bit unfair and like shouting into the wind. Maybe wait until it's on sale for dirt cheap or play it through Game Pass, but don't write it off entirely. Microsoft has obviously crunched the numbers and has ultimately decided a physical release for Hellblade 2 wouldn't be worth it in terms of revenue. It's unlikely Microsoft will go back on it now, so if you are one of the defiant physical fans who are willing to forgo what could be an exceptional gaming experience (I'm sure it will be; I have utmost faith in Ninja Theory), I think it might be time to come over to the Dark Side. I'm afraid that further digital-only disappointment awaits you in the future if you don't.

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Written by Sean Carey

A big fan of Xbox achievements, Sean has committed to playing as many of the best RPGs, racing games, and first-person shooters on and off Xbox Game Pass as possible. Before joining TrueAchievements, Sean earned a degree in journalism from Solent University.