Housemarque
Housemarque business and news from across the web.
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Top 10 best video games of 2026 – from 007 First Light to Resident Evil Requiem
This 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 prospers
Returnal 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 around
Housemarque'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 Graphite
Housemarque 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 FromSoftware
Housemarque, 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 Staff
Housemarque, 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 Makes
Housemarque'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 Saros
Sony-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, Review
The 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 games
Returnal 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 Trophies
Housemarque 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 It
Housemarque 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 2026
Developer 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.
Saros Players Record 6.63 Million Hours and 13.13 Million Deaths in Its First Month
In 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 Numbers
Housemarque 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 Straightforward
A 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 Saros
Composer 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 Division
Former 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.
