Hades 2 devs: The sequel wasn’t a business choice
Supergiant Games has built a reputation for crafting original worlds and unforgettable narratives, from the frontierpunk action of Bastion to the contemplative sci-fi tactics of Transistor. But their latest triumph, the roguelike action masterpiece Hades, cemented their status as masters of mythological storytelling. Naturally, following up such a success with Hades 2 felt like a natural progression, yet the development process revealed that the decision to create a sequel was less about business and more about pure creative exploration.
Behind the curtain of the sequel, the team wasn’t simply chasing profit; they were engaged in a deeper philosophical exercise. Studio director Amir Rao explains that every new project prompts them to pause and reflect on the previous experience. “We did our process where we considered lots of projects and I actually, at the beginning of that process, thought we almost certainly would not make a sequel to Hades,” Rao shared. This emphasis on introspection shows that for Supergiant, the creative journey is paramount.
Art director Jen Zee and the rest of the team, however, found incredible possibilities in revisiting the mythic landscape. They recognized the boundless potential within the Greek pantheon. “The Greek pantheon is so vast,” Zee noted, “it just felt like, ‘Oh, there’s this beautiful orchard and there’s so much fruit left on the trees. Like, we should maybe consider harvesting.'”
This enthusiasm for expansion was part of the thrill of the undertaking. The challenge of following up on such a successful game proved to be appealing precisely because it was new territory. Zee described the appeal of making a sequel as a form of thrill-seeking: “We approach sequels with a fair amount of skepticism because we do love exploring new worlds and we’ve never done it before. We’re real thrillsekers here. We’re like, ‘What if we did a sequel? No one would expect that.'”
Ultimately, every member of the development team stressed that the primary motivation for Hades 2 wasn’t financial gain, but the creative challenge itself. They admitted that while success certainly plays a role, the real goal was to creatively get themselves into a state of excitement. “If making the sequel is the right financial decision, we have made the dumb decision many times in a row,” Rao admitted. The focus remained squarely on pushing creative boundaries, ensuring that the sequel was an exhilarating extension of their established mythology.
The journey of creating Hades 2 is a testament to the fact that the greatest adventures are often found not in following a script, but in daring to explore new realms and harvest the endless fruits of imagination.
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