In the video, director Amir Rao, writer Greg Kasavin, and composer Darren Korb walk through the studio’s approach to making a follow-up to one of the most celebrated indie games of the last generation. While the footage doesn’t reveal new gameplay, the discussion gives fans a sense of what’s evolving and how Nintendo’s upcoming hardware is supporting that vision.
This follows the Creator’s Voice interview with FromSoftware’s Hidetaka Miyazaki about The Duskbloods, and marks the start of a weekly video series running through May 20. With Hades II confirmed for Switch 2, this is the first real peek into how one of 2025’s most anticipated indie games is shaping up for its console debut.
Hades II Builds on a Strong Foundation with a New Heroine and New Direction
The Creator’s Voice video features Supergiant Games’ Amir Rao, Greg Kasavin, and Darren Korb discussing how Hades II expands on what made the original game work. This time, you’re not playing as Zagreus—you’re playing as his sister, Melinoë, the Princess of the Underworld. She’s a sorceress trained in shadow magic, and that shift opens up new gameplay ideas and narrative possibilities.
One key point the team made: Hades II isn’t just a sequel in name. It’s designed to feel like a full, standalone experience. According to Kasavin, you don’t need to have played the first game to appreciate it. That said, returning fans will still notice recurring characters, themes, and consequences based on mythology and prior events.
Melinoë’s journey takes her beyond the Underworld as she faces Chronos, the Titan of Time. That thematic leap—going from escaping your home to confronting a cosmic force—gives the sequel a wider scope. Rao said it allowed the team to introduce new gods, locations, and abilities while still keeping that core loop fans love.
You’ll still die often, but every attempt reshapes the story. New lines of dialogue, reactions from gods and allies, and small shifts in the world make each run feel meaningful. Rao emphasized this structure as a core reason the team wanted to revisit Hades: it let them build narrative over time, shaped by player action.
Refined Combat, Striking Art, and a New Sound for Melinoë’s Journey
Supergiant emphasized that Hades II builds on the studio’s experience with action gameplay, while refining it around Melinoë’s magical skill set. Combat is still fast and reactive, but with more emphasis on ranged attacks, spellcasting, and time-based effects. The team explained that her move set was designed to feel different from Zagreus—quicker, more flexible, and tuned around her sorcery training.
Rao noted that the studio didn’t want to reinvent everything, but instead focused on “widening the palette” of available tools. The Boons from Olympus return, but gods now offer more specialized upgrades tied to Melinoë’s abilities. You can also combine blessings more easily, leading to strategic builds that feel tailored to your playstyle.
Kasavin mentioned the inclusion of witchcraft mechanics, rituals, and other additions that give Melinoë her own flavor. These elements tie into the game’s expanded world, which includes new realms beyond the traditional Underworld. These new areas introduce enemies not seen in the original game and encourage different types of movement and attack strategies.
On the visual side, the art team retained the painted, hand-animated look that made Hades stand out. But it’s sharper now—thanks in part to improved tools and the Switch 2’s upgraded hardware. Character animations feel smoother, and backgrounds are more layered and dynamic without losing clarity during chaotic fights.
Music also got a mention. Darren Korb shared that Hades II uses a new palette of instruments and styles to reflect Melinoë’s tone and setting. It still leans into electric strings and layered percussion, but the soundtrack introduces more ethereal and mystical sounds to match the witchcraft and cosmic themes.
Built for Nintendo Switch 2 and Part of a Larger Story
Supergiant made it clear that the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Hades II is a priority. Amir Rao pointed out how the new system’s hardware has helped improve load times, visual fidelity, and moment-to-moment responsiveness. While the team didn’t get into exact specs, they said the game feels great in both handheld and docked modes and benefits from the Switch 2’s faster processing and expanded memory.
This is also the studio’s first time developing a game with Nintendo hardware in mind from the start. Rao noted that because they knew Hades II would be coming to Switch 2 early on, they could design levels, menus, and UI without the need for later workarounds or compromises. They even touched on optimization tools Nintendo provided during development, helping the game stay fast and stable even during high-action sequences.
Kasavin added that the team has also focused on controller responsiveness, with specific tuning for Joy-Con 2 and Pro Controller inputs. Though the video didn’t mention Joy-Con motion or touchscreen features, the goal seems to be delivering a seamless experience across both portable and TV play.
Nintendo positioned this Creator’s Voice episode as the kickoff of a new series spotlighting how developers are taking advantage of the Switch 2. Supergiant’s blend of style, substance, and clear passion for its characters made it a strong fit to lead the series. Upcoming entries will highlight different studios, games, and design goals as Switch 2’s June 5 launch draws closer.
Hades II Shows How Switch 2 Is Supporting Bigger Indie Ambitions
Nintendo’s Creator’s Voice series leading up to the Nintendo Switch 2 launch this June is off to a strong start. This episode didn’t just offer a look at Hades II—it gave us a better understanding of how Supergiant approaches its characters, story structure, and action design. It also made it clear that Switch 2 isn’t just getting a port. This version was part of the plan from the beginning.
Seeing how much care is going into Melinoë’s journey, from her personality to her role in the wider Greek mythos, shows just how seriously Supergiant is treating this sequel. And with Switch 2’s faster performance and hardware-focused improvements, it looks like fans can expect a responsive, polished experience from day one.
Nintendo has already confirmed that more Creator’s Voice episodes are on the way. New installments drop every Tuesday through May 20. Each one will highlight different developers and games coming to Switch 2 after launch.
If you’re excited for Hades II, or just want to know how Switch 2 games are being built from the ground up, it’s worth keeping an eye on this series.
Which part of the Hades II grabbed you most? Are you planning to play it on Nintendo Switch 2? Let us know!
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