Ninja Theory’s Insight Project To Fight Mental Distress

Microsoft Studios’ Ninja Theory is working on an innovative R&D project called ‘The Insight Project’. The ambitious project combines technology, game design, and clinical neuroscience. The developer plans to deliver a mainstream solution to alleviate mental distress.

Our goal is to create and inspire a movement and help mental health treatment to go mainstream.

Ninja Theory said back in October, that this project will take several years to take shape, but its early announcement was meant to be as open and transparent as possible.

(The Insight Project)… “It is an exploratory but experimentally guided project that aims to deliver a mainstream solution to help treat mental suffering and encourage mental well being.”

Ninja Theory is planning to create a software that essentially would be approached as a game, playing it will lead to self-contained, individualized experiences, the objective is that players can become an expert at recognizing, responding and ultimately “controlling their own fear anxiety and other negative subjective experiences”

The Insight Project will be flexible to the needs of the individual, but will also be enjoyable in the ways that will ensure an enthusiastic approach leading to a sustainable change.

Ninja Theory is known for releasing Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, the game’s development was directed by Tameem Antoniades, co-founder and Creative Director at Ninja Theory under the guidance of Paul Fletcher, Psychiatrist, and Professor of Health Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge.

The result of this collaboration was a widely acclaimed game, both by players and scientists. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice depicted a warrior with severe mental health issues. According to Wellcome, the game is the best representation of psychosis in any media. The game won 5 BAFTAs, 3 The Game Awards, and a Royal College of Psychiatrist award.

Tameem and Paul continued discussion on how games “can go beyond representing mental illness and distress and how they play a role in promoting mental well being” These discussions ended creating a plan, The Insight Project.

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