Housemarque
Housemarque business and news from across the web.
Saros Players Record 6.63 Million Hours and 13.13 Million Deaths in Its First MonthIn its first month, Housemarque's roguelike bullet hell shooter Saros has seen players record 6.63 million hours and 13.13 million deaths on PlayStation 5. The Smart Rifle emerged as the most popular weapon, and the game's challenging yet approachable design is credited for its strong player engagement.
We Still Don't Know Sales Figures, But Saros PS5 Player Stats Reveal Some Big NumbersHousemarque has released player statistics for their PlayStation 5 shooter, Saros, nearly a month after its launch. The data reveals players have died over 13 million times, defeated 863 million enemies, and collected over 101 billion Lucenite. The Smart Rifle is currently the most popular weapon among players.
It Seems Most PS5 Fans Prefer Returnal Over Saros, But It's Not That StraightforwardA poll of PlayStation 5 owners indicates a preference for Returnal over Saros, with 43% favoring Returnal overall. However, Saros received higher marks for gameplay, while Returnal was preferred for its story and main character, Selene. Both games are developed by Housemarque.
The sound of the Eclipse: Sam Slater on scoring SarosComposer Sam Slater discusses his approach to creating the soundtrack for the game Saros, emphasizing the blend of dark synthesis, drone metal, and manipulated voices to capture the game's atmosphere. He details the collaborative process with Housemarque and PlayStation Studios Creative Arts, focusing on building a unique musical identity for the game's world and characters, and how sound design and music work together to immerse the player.
Former Housemarque game director launches Cosmic DivisionFormer Returnal game director Harry Krueger has founded a new studio called Cosmic Division in Helsinki. The studio will focus on craftsmanship and sustainable growth, prioritizing a gameplay-first single-player experience for PC and consoles. Krueger previously spent 15 years at Housemarque, contributing to games like Nex Machina and Resogun before directing Returnal.- Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream Beat Every Other Game In The US Last MonthTomodachi Life: Living the Dream was the best-selling game in the US for April 2026, generating over $41 million in sales and becoming the ninth best-selling game of the year. Overall consumer spending in the US reached $4.3 billion for the month, a 3% increase year-over-year, with Nintendo's Switch 2 console leading hardware sales.
'We're Not Standing Still': Returnal Director Forms New Studio to Make Games That Trust YouHarry Krueger, director of Returnal and a 14-year Housemarque veteran, has founded a new studio called Cosmic Division. The company is already working on its first project, a single-player, gameplay-first experience with a strong emotional story, planned for PC and consoles. Cosmic Division has secured initial funding and is seeking further investment and talent.
Former Housemarque game director launches new studio Cosmic DivisionFormer Housemarque game director Harry Krueger has launched a new independent studio named Cosmic Division. The Finnish studio aims to develop a new single-player intellectual property for PC and consoles, emphasizing a gameplay-first experience and emotional storytelling. Cosmic Division has secured seed financing and is actively hiring to build a compact team.
Returnal director and Housemarque veteran Harry Krueger launches Finland-based game studio Cosmic DivisionReturnal game director Harry Krueger has launched a new independent game studio in Finland called Cosmic Division. The studio, founded by veterans from Housemarque, will focus on creating ambitious, gameplay-first single-player experiences with a strong sense of mystery and immersion. Their first project, a new intellectual property targeting consoles and PC, is expected to celebrate the studio's heritage and deliver impactful stories.- Former Housemarque director Harry Krueger establishes game studio Cosmic DivisionFormer Housemarque director Harry Krueger, known for his work on Returnal and Nex Machina, has established a new game studio named Cosmic Division. Krueger departed Housemarque in 2023 after a 14-year tenure.
- Former Housemarque Game Director Harry Krueger launches new game studioFormer Housemarque Game Director Harry Krueger has launched a new game studio named Cosmic Division in Finland. Krueger, known for his work on titles like Returnal, aims to build on his experience with a focus on gameplay-first experiences and strong emotional resonance for their first project, a single-player PC and console title.
Returnal Director Founds New Studio, First Project Will be “Unapologetically Gameplay First”Harry Krueger, the director of Returnal, has founded a new studio called Cosmic Division in Finland. The studio's first project will be a single-player, gameplay-first new intellectual property for PC and consoles, aiming for strong emotional resonance. Krueger previously worked on games like Resogun and Nex Machina at Housemarque, and his latest project there, Saros, received a 9 out of 10 review.- Saros Patch 1.004.003 notes fix progression blocking & area skipping bugsHousemarque has released patch 1.004.003 for Saros, addressing critical bugs that prevented player progression and allowed players to skip areas. The update specifically fixes issues related to being blocked out of the Ancient Depths and the Blighted Marsh.
Sektori's solo developer can finally pay themselves a salary after Nintendo Switch 2 successThe solo developer behind the twin-stick shooter Sektori, Kimmo Lahtinen, has announced that the game's successful launch on Nintendo Switch has allowed him to finally pay himself a living wage after years of development. The game has sold approximately 30,000 units across all platforms, with the Switch version being particularly well-received.
Saros Protagonist’s Actor Says He Found His Voice by Getting Mad While Stuck in TrafficActor Rahul Kohli revealed that a frustrating traffic jam in Los Angeles helped him discover the intense voice for Saros protagonist Arjun Devraj. Director Paul J. Vogel commented on the unpredictable nature of creative storytelling, while Kohli also shared his initial discomfort with performance capture suits and advice received from Troy Baker.
"Sometimes all it really takes is one very bad commute" - the Saros team reveal the surprising origins of Arjun's angry deliveryActor Rahul Kohli revealed that the distinctive angry voice for Saros protagonist Arjun Devraj was born out of a frustrating commute to a recording session. This anecdote is part of Housemarque's behind-the-scenes documentary series about the game's development. Despite critical acclaim, Saros' launch sales reportedly did not match that of Returnal.
Saros PS5 Making Of Video Reveals the Relatable Reason Behind Arjun's RageSony and Housemarque have released the first episode of a behind-the-scenes documentary detailing the making of their PlayStation 5 exclusive game, Saros. The video focuses on lead actor Rahul Kohli and his process of bringing the character Arjun Devraj to life, revealing that a frustrating commute inspired the character's intense voice performance.- Attention Geometry Wars fans! Sektori is one of last year's best arcade shooters, and it's out on Switch 2 todaySektori, an arcade twin-stick shooter praised for its resemblance to Geometry Wars, has been released on Nintendo Switch. Developed by Kimmo Lahtinen, the game features an upgrade system and dynamic arenas. It was previously released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X in November.
Creating Saros: how performance tech and a bad commute brought Arjun Devraj to lifeThe development of Saros, a new game from Housemarque, is highlighted through the performance capture process for its protagonist, Arjun Devraj, voiced by Rahul Kohli. Actor Rahul Kohli and director Paul J. Vogel discuss the technical and human aspects of bringing the character to life, with Kohli sharing an anecdote about how a traffic jam helped him discover Arjun's authentic voice. The game is available on PlayStation 5.- Brain-scrambling twin-stick shooter Sektori blazes onto Switch 2 eShop todayThe twin-stick shooter Sektori, developed by Kimmo Lahtinen, has launched on the Nintendo Switch 2 eShop for $14.99. Previously acclaimed on PC and PlayStation 5, the game features hyperkinetic gameplay, transforming battlefields, and multiple game modes. Lahtinen, formerly of Housemarque, aimed to create a modern arcade experience with Sektori.