Housemarque
Housemarque business and news from across the web.
SAROS Guide – How To Get The True EndingThis guide details how to unlock the true ending in the game SAROS. Players must first complete the game once, then return to the Yellow Shore biome. At the final boss, instead of delivering the killing blow, players should walk into the portal to trigger the alternate, true ending.
Saros Review | Giant BombSaros, a new roguelite from Housemarque, evolves the formula of Returnal with new mechanics like energy management and a shield-punch maneuver, but ultimately feels too stretched out. Despite strong performances and engaging combat, the game's familiar cosmic horror themes and overly aggressive upgrade system trivialize the challenge, making it less than the sum of its parts. The reviewer found the game to be a good, playable experience but not as compelling as its predecessor.
I asked Saros' art director about the game's obsession with hands, and got a fascinating insight into how…Housemarque's art director Simone Silvestri discusses the thematic significance of hands in the game Saros, explaining how the motif ties into the central themes of greed and corrupted enlightenment. The visual style, a fusion of neoclassicism and Italian futurism, was developed to complement the game's fast-paced action and narrative.
Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? - Issue 631Several Push Square staff members share their gaming plans for the weekend, with titles like Saros, Replaced on Steam Deck, and Killzone: Mercenary on PlayStation Vita being mentioned. Other staff are diving into NTE, updating Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on PlayStation VR2, and playing Vampire Crawlers.- Saros ReviewSaros, a game from Housemarque, evolves the roguelite formula established by Returnal with engaging combat mechanics like active reload and a new shield-punch system. Despite these improvements and strong performances from its cast, the game suffers from pacing issues, stretching its content too thin and making the challenge trivial due to aggressive permanent upgrades. While still a good game with excellent gameplay and visuals, Saros ultimately feels like less than the sum of its parts.
Official PlayStation Podcast Episode 540: Surviving SarosThe Official PlayStation Podcast episode 540 features an interview with actor Rahul Kohli and Housemarque's Creative Director Gregory Loudeni discussing the launch of Saros. The episode also covers updates for Arc Raiders, boss design for 4:Loop, impressions of The Blood of Dawnwalker, a gameplay reveal for NBA The Run, and a hands-on preview of 007: First Light.
Saros trophy list includes an unexpected tribute to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33The trophy list for the PlayStation 5 game Saros includes an unexpected tribute to the upcoming title Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. One trophy, 'Carcosan Cartographer,' requires players to survive 33 expeditions using 'Carcosan Modifiers,' which are difficulty tweaks activated before a run.
Saros is finally here, but how long does it take to beat?The game Saros, developed by Housemarque, offers a playthrough length of approximately 22-25 hours for the main story for average players, potentially dropping to 15 hours for skilled players familiar with similar titles like Returnal. Achieving 100% completion or the Platinum Trophy will require 30-45 hours of gameplay on PlayStation 5.
PS Studios Celebrates the Launch of PS5 Exclusive Saros with Brilliant ArtworkHousemarque's new PlayStation 5 exclusive, Saros, has launched, accompanied by celebratory artwork from various PlayStation Studios developers including Sucker Punch Productions, Naughty Dog, Santa Monica Studio, and Insomniac Games. Atomic Heart developer Mundfish also joined in the well wishes. The article praises Saros as a fantastic and accessible experience, particularly for fans of Returnal.
All Saros Adrenaline levels and what they doSaros features an Adrenaline system that grants buffs as players progress through combat without taking damage. There are five Adrenaline Levels, each providing a unique perk such as increased power absorption, enemy marking, melee damage, or health restoration. Adrenaline levels reset upon taking damage, encouraging careful play. Players can increase Adrenaline gain by dealing damage and collecting Lucenite, with the Armor Matrix upgrade system offering further enhancements.
Housemarque's Saros Directors: Our Greatest Influence Is Ourselves | HappyGamerHousemarque directors revealed that their primary creative influence is the studio itself, rather than external games. This self-referential approach has defined their past successes with titles like Returnal and Resogun. While some question if this strategy is universally applicable, Housemarque's long history and technical mastery suggest their upcoming game, Saros, will continue this unique path.
Saros Was Made More Approachable Than Returnal So More Players Could Enjoy ItHousemarque's Gregory Louden and Matti Häkli explain that Saros was designed to be more approachable than Returnal to allow more players to enjoy the experience. While Saros offers more tools and modifiers for players to experiment with, they emphasize it is not necessarily easier, but rather provides more room to learn mechanics and achieve a flow state. The goal is to introduce more players to the Housemarque experience, potentially leading them to explore the studio's previous titles.
Saros directors say Housemarque's greatest influence is itself: "As much as we love other games, we wanted to…Housemarque directors Gregory Louden and Simone Silvestri discuss the development of Saros, emphasizing that the studio's greatest influence is its own past work, citing Returnal and Nex Machina as key inspirations. They highlight a commitment to bold design, cosmic horror themes, and a self-perpetuating reverence for their established DNA, aiming to innovate while staying true to their unique identity.
Beautiful PS5 Exclusive Game Out Today on PS StoreThe PlayStation 5 exclusive game Saros, developed by Housemarque and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment, is now available on the PlayStation Store. This third-person action game combines elements of shooters and roguelites, starring Rahul Kohli as protagonist Arjun Devraj. Saros has received positive reviews, with an average score of 88 on Metacritic.- Brutal difficulty? Crushing bosses? Don't let them scare you off Saros, pleads PlayStation studios lead: "If this video game looks cool to you then IT IS FOR YOU"Mihir Sheth, senior product developer director at PlayStation Studios, encourages players not to be deterred by Saros's difficulty, stating that the game is for anyone who finds it appealing. He highlights that Housemarque has included options to tailor the experience and preserve challenge, suggesting that players can adjust modifiers to make the game more approachable.
Into the Depths of SAROS’ Carcosa with HousemarqueHousemarque's upcoming PlayStation 5 title, SAROS, is described as a spiritual successor to Returnal, featuring a dark science fiction narrative set on the corrupting planet Carcosa. Creative Director Gregory Louden and Art Director Simone Silvestri discussed the game's mechanics, including the 'eclipse' system that transforms the world and offers gameplay opportunities, as well as the ensemble cast, featuring actors like Jane Perry and Rahul Kohli.
Saros release times and date for all regionsSaros has staggered release times depending on the edition purchased and region. The Standard Edition releases on April 30, 2026, at midnight local time for most regions, while the Deluxe Edition with 48 hours of early access is available now. The game requires 83.5GB of storage space.
Housemarque to host session at Nordic Game 2026Finnish developer Housemarque will present a talk at the Nordic Game conference focusing on the art and design process of their latest game, Saros. Brand director Mikael Haveri, associate design director Mitja Roskaric, and art director Simone Silvestri will lead the session. The conference will also feature other industry speakers and panels.
Returnal Creators Reveal Saros as Dark Successor About Power and Greed | HappyGamerHousemarque has revealed Saros as their next project, a successor to Returnal that will explore themes of obsession, greed, power, and corruption. The Finnish studio aims to build on the success of Returnal, which proved the viability of AAA roguelikes, by tackling darker subject matter. While details are scarce, the studio is expected to integrate these mature themes into gameplay mechanics on the PlayStation 5.- The best Finnish games in the world will be awarded at The Finnish Game Awards 2026 gala in MayThe Finnish Game Awards 2026 gala will take place on May 21, 2026, in Helsinki to honor the best Finnish games of 2025. The event will feature new award categories such as Best IP Expansion of the Year and Business Excellence Award, alongside traditional honors like Finnish Game of the Year. The Finnish games industry saw revenue growth in 2025, driven by a strong performance in multi-platform, PC, and mobile segments.