Housemarque
Housemarque business and news from across the web.
10 Best Looking Games of 2026 So FarThis article ranks the 10 best-looking games released in the first half of 2026, highlighting advancements in graphical fidelity and immersive world design. Titles like Resident Evil Requiem, RIDE 6, and Forza Horizon 6 are praised for their stunning visuals, character models, and environmental details, showcasing how current hardware allows developers to blur the line between reality and virtual worlds.
Acclaimed PS5 roguelike shooter Saros gets a substantial free trial, but there's a catchHousemarque has released a two-and-a-half-hour free trial for its PlayStation 5 roguelike shooter Saros. However, the trial is exclusively available to PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers, the highest tier of Sony's subscription service. Despite critical acclaim, Saros' sales have reportedly been slower than its predecessor, Returnal, leading to concerns about its commercial performance.
10 Best Games of 2026 So FarThis article ranks the top 10 video games released in the first half of 2026. Titles like Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert, and Forza Horizon 6 are highlighted for their innovative gameplay, compelling stories, and impressive visuals. The list also features LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, Mouse: P.I. For Hire, Pragmata, Saros, Nioh 3, 007 First Light, and Pokémon Pokopia.
PS Plus Premium Adds Free Trial for Hit 2026 PS5 Exclusive GamePlayStation Plus Premium subscribers can now access a free 2.5-hour trial for the PlayStation 5 exclusive action game Saros. Developed by Housemarque and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the game features a neon-infused aesthetic and bullet ballet combat. Progress made during the trial carries over to the full game, which costs $69.99.
"The goal isn't to build something that burns brightly for a few years and disappears" – Cosmic Division CEO on launching a "responsibly ambitious" studioHarry Krueger, former game director at Housemarque, has launched Cosmic Division, a new studio focused on sustainable growth and long-term endurance. He emphasizes a 'responsibly ambitious' approach, prioritizing talent, scope management, and a healthy runway over aggressive expansion. Krueger aims to build a studio that lasts, drawing lessons from AAA development to avoid common pitfalls of over-ambition and compromise.
Top 10 best video games of 2026 – from 007 First Light to Resident Evil RequiemThis article ranks the top 10 video games released in the first half of 2026, highlighting titles like 007 First Light, Pokémon Pokopia, and Resident Evil Requiem. The list excludes remasters, remakes, yearly sequels, expansions, and early access titles, focusing on original new releases across various platforms including Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Returnal director will be 'responsibly ambitious' to ensure his new studio prospersReturnal director Harry Krueger has founded a new indie studio, Cosmic Division, with a philosophy of being 'responsibly ambitious' to ensure long-term success. He emphasizes prioritizing gameplay-first experiences, fostering good team chemistry, and maintaining a lean, sustainable operation, drawing lessons from his 15 years at Housemarque. Krueger views AI as a tool rather than a savior, focusing on iterative development and creative vision.
"This is just the start" - Housemarque responds to Saros' slower sales versus Returnal's, and compares itself to one of the most beloved studios aroundHousemarque's Mikael Haveri and Ilari Kuittinen addressed the slower initial sales of their latest game, Saros, compared to Returnal. They believe Saros, like Returnal, will gain traction over time and are committed to supporting it with updates. The studio draws parallels to FromSoftware's journey, aiming to educate the market on their niche bullet hell and roguelike action titles and build a dedicated fanbase.
The VFX tech behind Saros: from NGP to GraphiteHousemarque details the evolution of their visual effects technology, from the NGP particle engine used in Returnal to the unified Graphite framework powering Saros. The article highlights advancements in volumetric fog rendering, GPU simulation, and Houdini integration for creating dynamic and reactive in-game environments on PlayStation 5.- Saros Developer Housemarque Wants to Have the Same Growth as FromSoftwareHousemarque, the developer behind Saros, has expressed a desire to achieve a similar growth trajectory to FromSoftware, the acclaimed creators of Elden Ring. The studio aims to emulate the success and expansion of the renowned Japanese developer.
Saros Developer’s Next Title “Might Not Be At That Scale,” As It’s Grown to Nearly 120 StaffHousemarque, known for Saros on PlayStation 5, is discussing its future projects, which may not be on the same scale as their latest title due to the studio's growth to nearly 120 staff. Studio head Ilari Kuittinen noted the challenges of managing larger teams for bigger experiences. The studio is also focused on supporting Saros based on community feedback, while exploring new opportunities that might be less ambitious.
Saros Studio Wants to Continue Educating Players About The Kinds of Games it MakesHousemarque's Ilari Kuittinen and Mikael Haveri discussed their approach to educating players about their unique games like Returnal and Saros, drawing inspiration from FromSoftware's long-term success with difficult RPGs. They aim to foster a community around their titles by highlighting engaging gameplay mechanics and continuously improving the player experience, even if sales start slow, as seen with Returnal's later traction.
Housemarque Hints Its Next PS5 Game Could Be Smaller Than SarosSony-owned studio Housemarque, now a first-party developer after the release of Returnal, is considering smaller-scale projects for its next game. Co-founder Ilari Kuittinen hinted that future titles might not be as large as their recent game, Saros, suggesting a potential exploration of more traditional arcade experiences.
Why Virtual Reality Games Development Is Growing in the Global Gaming Industry - Walkthrough, Tips, ReviewThe virtual reality gaming market is experiencing significant growth, projected to reach nearly $89 billion by 2031, driven by more accessible hardware and increasing player demand for immersive experiences. Companies like Kevuru Games are highlighted as leading full-cycle VR development studios, offering expertise in platforms such as Meta Quest, HTC Vive, and PlayStation VR, and contributing to major titles and ecosystems.
'I try to play as a completionist and leave no stone unturned and no enemy unkilled': Returnal director Harry Krueger talks Deus Ex, Resident Evil, and the arcade classic that inspired Housemarque's best gamesReturnal director Harry Krueger discusses his PC gaming habits, highlighting influential titles like Deus Ex, Resident Evil 4, and Ikaruga. He shares his preference for completionist playstyles and how arcade classics inspired his work at Housemarque and his new studio, Cosmic Division.
Acclaimed 2026 PS5 Exclusive Action Game Surprise Drops Free Update With TrophiesHousemarque has released a surprise free update for their PlayStation 5 exclusive action game, Saros. The update introduces a new Photo Mode, allowing players to capture and share images of the game's environments, and adds nine new trophies related to this feature. The patch also includes various bug fixes and optimizations.
Saros Adds Photo Mode and New PS5 Trophies to Make You Use ItHousemarque has released update 1.005.1 for Saros, introducing a new Photo Mode with extensive camera and editing options. The update also adds a separate DLC Trophy Pack with nine new challenges, which are required for 100% game completion on PlayStation 5.
Vampire Survivors has a free content expansion, plus a Legacy of the Bloodmoon DLC in Summer 2026Developer poncle has released a free content update for Vampire Survivors, version 1.15, which includes major quality-of-life improvements, new content like stages and characters, and various tweaks. Additionally, the 'Legacy of the Bloodmoon' DLC was announced for Summer 2026, serving as an expansion to 'Legacy of the Moonspell'. poncle also revealed plans for a new studio in Japan headed by Sawaki Takeyasu and a lineup of 'Survivaton' games.
Games Inbox: Will Summer Game Fest 2026 be worth staying up for?Readers discuss their anticipation for Summer Game Fest, with hopes for announcements like Resident Evil Code: Veronica and Alien: Isolation 2. There's also commentary on Marvel's Wolverine, God of War Laufey, and the ongoing debate about game sales, digital vs. physical releases, and the importance of exclusives.
Did Marvel’s Wolverine make a good impression in the State of Play?Readers express mixed feelings about recent gaming showcases, with "Marvel's Wolverine" drawing comparisons to "Uncharted" and "Batman: Arkham Asylum" for its perceived lack of originality. Concerns are also raised about the frequency of sequels and the potential for Xbox to offer more surprising content. Additionally, discussions touch upon Nintendo's infrequent announcements, the modern trend of extensive post-launch downloads for games like "007 First Light," and the perceived decline in innovation within triple-A titles.