Ninja Theory’s upcoming action title Hellblade will explore the effects of psychosis, the studio says.

The Cambridge, UK based indie announced today that mental health and psychosis are the key themes of the game’s story, which is inspired by historical events.

Hellblade tells the story of Senua, a Celtic warrior who is left traumatised by a Viking invasion. Players will follow Senua’s journey into a vision of hell that is the manifestation of her own mental illness.

In order to ensure a sensitive and accurate portrayal of the subject, Ninja Theory has been working closely with Psychiatrist and Professor of Health and Neuroscience from the University of Cambridge, Paul Fletcher, as well as arranging to consult with people who have experience of mental health difficulties.

“True understanding of mental health is not simply about books, lectures or verbal descriptions but from deeper engagement on all levels,” said Fletcher.

“Working with Ninja Theory has shown me the potential that gaming has for sharing in a character's experiences and engendering empathy in ways that go well beyond those offered by simple academic descriptions. Maybe this approach will contribute powerful new ways of challenging stigma.”

The project is supported by the Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation which aims to build a greater public understanding of science, and in particular health.

“More and more, games have an exciting and innovative role to play in giving us new perspectives on health and mental health challenges,” said the Wellcome Trust’s Iain Dodgeon.

“Rather than being a didactic game teaching us about psychosis, Hellblade allows us to explore it through the creation of a compelling and complex character, and the world that she inhabits.”

Hellblade is being developed for PlayStation 4 and PC by 15 people under a development model Ninja Theory calls “Independent AAA”.

“In Hellblade we are pursuing creative independence in order to explore a compelling subject matter and gaming experience that would not be possible under the current retail model,” said Ninja Theory chief creative director Tameem Antoniades.

“In movie terms, this would be a quality independent film, not a Hollywood blockbuster. Digital self-publishing means that we can offer a smaller, but high quality game at around half the price of retail games.”

Hellblade will be available in 2016.

Ninja Theory's previous games include Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, and DmC: Devil May Cry.