Returnal
News, coverage and analysis tracking Returnal across the outlets.
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.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 3: Steam Summer Sale continuesThe Steam Summer Sale and other PC gaming storefronts are offering numerous deals on a wide variety of titles. This includes discounts on major releases, indie games, and bundles across platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and Humble Bundle. Several retailers are participating, with prices and availability varying.
"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.
007 First Light Is Making The Case For Shorter, Sharper AAA CampaignsThis article argues that shorter, focused AAA campaigns can offer superior value compared to bloated open-world or live-service titles. It highlights games like 007 First Light, Marvel's Spider-Man, and Titanfall 2 as examples of delivering quality experiences within reasonable playtimes. The piece suggests that despite rising development costs, publishers can still find success with well-crafted, linear narratives.
How roguelite shooter Void/Breaker’s destruction combat uses PS5 featuresVoid/Breaker, a roguelite shooter developed by Daniel Stubbington, is set to launch on PlayStation 5, emphasizing its destruction combat and weapon modification systems. The game aims to blend fast-paced action with strategic depth, leveraging PlayStation 5's DualSense controller features like adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. A demo is currently available, with the full release planned to include six zones and a narrative influenced by Returnal.
Steam Machine Impressions: A Tiny Box With Big Trade-OffsValve's Steam Machine, designed as a compact living room PC, is launching with mixed impressions regarding its performance and price. While praised for its quiet operation and small form factor, its graphical capabilities are noted to be weaker than current-generation consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, especially at higher resolutions. Priced starting at $1,049, it is positioned as an entry-level gaming PC rather than a direct competitor to consoles.
Weekend PC Download Deals for June 19: GOG.com Summer SaleThis weekend's PC gaming deals include GOG.com's Summer Sale featuring discounts on titles like Hollow Knight Silksong and Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition. Steam and Epic Games Store also have various sales, with free games available on Epic Games Store and Amazon Luna. Humble Bundle offers several game bundles for different price tiers.
Weekend Console Download Deals for June 19: Dispatch your walletsThis article highlights various digital game sales available on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch for the weekend of June 19. It features discounts on a wide range of titles, including notable games like Resident Evil 4 Gold Edition, Dave the Diver, and Grand Theft Auto 5, across different storefronts and subscription services.
PlayStation patents can get weird, but none are more bizarre than this joystick with an "operation member"…Sony has patented a bizarre joystick design featuring an "operation member" with a hardness control unit, which could be an evolution of the haptic feedback seen in the PlayStation 5's DualSense controller. While the patent itself is unusual, it suggests Sony is exploring advanced adaptive trigger resistance for future controllers, potentially enhancing immersion in games like The Last of Us Part II or God of War.
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 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.
DualSense PC gamers have been vindicated at last, as haptic support is finally here—though no thanks to SonyAn update to the DSX beta software now provides unofficial support for Sony's DualSense controller haptics and adaptive triggers on PC via Bluetooth or USB. While this functionality requires a paid upgrade, it brings a feature previously exclusive to the PlayStation 5 to PC gamers. This development comes as Sony continues to focus on PS5 exclusives, making unofficial support a welcome addition for PC players.
'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.- Daily Video Game Deals Jun 13 – Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap, Nioh 3, Silent Hill 2, Sengoku Dynasty Ultimate Edition, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN, Persona 5 Royal & MoreDaily Video Game Deals for June 13, 2026, are now live across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The sale features discounts on numerous titles including Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap, Nioh 3, Silent Hill 2, Sengoku Dynasty Ultimate Edition, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, ELDEN RING NIGHTREIGN, and Persona 5 Royal.
We are all encouraging video game companies to make nothing but sequels - Reader's FeatureA reader expresses disappointment with recent gaming showcases, noting a prevalence of sequels and remakes over innovative new intellectual properties. The author argues that while games like God of War and Grand Theft Auto 6 are highly anticipated, they offer predictable gameplay. The article suggests that the industry and players alike are contributing to this trend, with nostalgia for older titles like Resident Evil and The Legend of Zelda also playing a significant role.
Weekend PC Download Deals for June 12: Steam Bullet FestThis weekend's PC gaming deals include a Steam Bullet Fest celebrating bullet hell and shooter games, alongside sales from various publishers and developers like Capcom, Klei, and Ubisoft. Notable titles on sale include Vampire Survivors, Returnal, and Destiny 2, with free games and bundles also available across platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, and Amazon Luna.