Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II on Handheld Gaming Consoles: Can it Run?

The wait is finally over, and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II has arrived on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC. This highly anticipated game is a visual masterpiece, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in modern gaming. But can it run on handheld gaming consoles like the ASUS ROG Ally?

Gaming on the Go

Handheld gaming consoles like the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go are capable of playing a wide range of modern PC games. However, they do have power limitations that can impact performance. Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II requires a powerful gaming PC to run smoothly, so I decided to put it to the test on my ASUS ROG Ally.

Can it Run?

I downloaded Hellblade II on my ASUS ROG Ally via the Microsoft Store, and it took up around 49GB of space. After installing the game, I had to wait around 5-10 minutes for it to compile the shaders for the first time. Once that was done, the game loaded up without any issues, and I was able to start experimenting with different settings.

To get the game running smoothly, I had to make some sacrifices. I allocated more RAM for gaming, as the default settings didn’t provide enough VRAM for the game to run smoothly. I also enabled AMD-specific gaming features like Radeon Super Resolution, Radeon Anti-Lag, and Radeon Boost. By setting the game to the lowest graphics preset and enabling AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution 3, I was able to achieve a stable 30 frames-per-second (FPS).

However, the game struggled to run past 20 FPS when I used the ROG Ally unplugged and in its 15W Performance mode. It wasn’t until I switched to the 25W Turbo mode that I was able to achieve a stable and consistent 30 FPS.

The Verdict

While Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II can run on handheld gaming consoles like the ASUS ROG Ally, it requires some compromises to get it running smoothly. By allocating more RAM and tweaking the graphics settings, you can enjoy a good gaming experience on the go. However, it’s clear that these handheld consoles are not yet powerful enough to run the game at its full potential.

Gaming on the go with the ASUS ROG Ally

“The game struggled to run past 20 FPS when I used the ROG Ally unplugged and in its 15W Performance mode.”

Gaming performance on handheld consoles

In conclusion, while Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II can run on handheld gaming consoles, it’s clear that these devices are not yet powerful enough to run the game at its full potential. However, with some tweaks and compromises, you can still enjoy a good gaming experience on the go.