Returnal
News, coverage and analysis tracking Returnal across the outlets.
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Saros: The Big Preview - IGN
Housemarque's upcoming game, Saros, is a cosmic horror bullet-fest that builds upon the acclaimed third-person looper shooter mechanics of Returnal. Early gameplay suggests Saros aims to surpass its predecessor in scope and intensity.
Runs in Saros on PS5 Will Be Significantly Shorter Than Those in Returnal
Housemarque's upcoming roguelite shooter Saros will feature significantly shorter runs compared to Returnal, with individual biomes taking approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. The game will also include multiple save slots, autosave, and the ability to suspend runs, offering more flexibility and reducing player frustration.
Saros will "tempt you to do tricky things", its game designer tells me about its aggressive, creative shield…
Saros, a roguelike inspired by Returnal, introduces a unique shield mechanic that encourages aggressive play and creative use of enemy projectiles. Lead game designer Abebe Tinari explains how this mechanic fundamentally changes combat encounters compared to its predecessor. The game is set to release on PlayStation 5 and features challenging boss fights and dynamic eclipses that alter gameplay.
Saros: The Big Preview - IGN
Saros is a new game that may appeal to fans of Returnal, though the author expresses a preference for Housemarque's earlier shoot 'em up titles like Stardust, Resogun, and Nex Machina. The preview suggests that players who enjoy the style of Returnal will likely find Saros engaging.
James Marsden Spills X-Men Secrets, and Servers Go Flyi... | TAG
This gaming news roundup covers several topics including a discount on a Tomtoc Nintendo Switch 2 carrying case, Crimson Desert potentially coming to Switch 2 with some compromises, and Sonya Walger cast as Freya in Amazon's God of War series. It also touches on James Marsden's X-Men line, a server rack tossing competition, rumored 2026 game releases, an unofficial browser port of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, free mobile games from Epic Games Store, a Silent Hill F DLC for Fatal Frame 2 Remake, Dispatch coming to Xbox, and Saros being made easier than Returnal based on player feedback. Finally, it notes Netflix's recent price increase.
Housemarque on how Saros evolves Returnal's punishing formula
Housemarque, the Finnish studio behind Returnal, is discussing how the difficulty of their latest PlayStation exclusive, Saros, evolves the punishing formula of Returnal. The studio wrestled with the question of whether Returnal was too hard when developing Saros.
Housemarque on how Saros evolves Returnal's punishing formula
Housemarque, the studio behind Returnal, is developing a new PlayStation 5 exclusive titled Saros. Developer Gregory Louden discussed how the team is evolving Returnal's challenging gameplay formula for the new title.
Saros has been made easier than Returnal due to player feedback, though creative director claims its still "a very challenging game"
Housemarque has made its upcoming sci-fi roguelike shooter Saros easier than Returnal, incorporating features like autosaves and multiple save slots based on player feedback. Creative director Gregory Louden stated that while the game remains challenging, these changes aim to allow more players to experience its content. The game will also feature permanent upgrades and shorter, approximately 30-minute run times, and is releasing exclusively on PlayStation 5.
After 3 hours, Saros is a PS5 must-play and GOTY contender - Gamesradar
Housemarque's sci-fi roguelike Returnal is a must-play title for PlayStation 5 owners and a strong contender for Game of the Year. The game's 'bullet ballet' gameplay puts players under pressure while providing them with the tools to overcome its challenging world.
After 3 hours, Saros is a PS5 must-play and GOTY contender - Gamesradar
The upcoming game Saros is being hailed as a must-play title for PlayStation 5 and a potential Game of the Year contender. The article also references Returnal as a phenomenal and favorite PS5 game, noting its difficulty.
Saros Preview - Speaking My Language - Game Informer
The upcoming game Saros is generating excitement among players who enjoyed the challenging gameplay of Returnal. One commenter specifically praised Returnal as their favorite PlayStation 5 title and expressed anticipation for Saros, having not followed its development closely since the initial trailer.
'We're Only Talking About the PS5': Saros Director on Cancelled PC Port Reports
Saros director Gregory Louden stated that discussions are currently focused solely on the PlayStation 5 launch, amidst reports that Sony is scaling back its PC porting strategy. Bloomberg suggests that conversions for games like Saros and Ghost of Yotei have been cancelled, with the company aiming for greater exclusivity.
Round Up: 'Already a GOTY Contender': 5 Things We Learned from Saros PS5 Previews
Previews for Housemarque's upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive, Saros, highlight its evolution from Returnal with more approachable yet still challenging gameplay. The game features enhanced gun variety, a new shield mechanic for absorbing bullets, and a high-risk, high-reward 'Eclipse' system. Saros also incorporates a more overt narrative structure with character interactions in its hub world, drawing comparisons to Hades.
Saros director won't say whether it's coming to PC, following report Sony plan to stop porting over their big singleplayer guns
The director of the upcoming game Saros, Gregory Louden, declined to comment on potential PC portage, following reports that Sony plans to limit releases of its major single-player titles to PlayStation 5. While Saros is confirmed for PlayStation 5, its PC availability remains uncertain, unlike the previously PC-ported Returnal.
Saros Looks Like Returnal, But Feels Unlike Anything Else Housemarque Has Made - Gamespot
Housemarque's upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive, Saros, offers a gameplay experience distinct from their previous work, including Returnal. A three-hour hands-on preview suggests the studio is set to deliver another memorable title.
Saros developer doesn't think Returnal 'was that hard of a game', but admits that the team 'did pay a lot more attention to the onboarding experience' for its spiritual successor
Housemarque's associate design director Mitja Roskaric stated that Returnal was not an overly difficult game, but acknowledged that its onboarding experience required more attention. For their new title, Saros, the team focused on rewarding movement and implementing permanent progression systems to improve the learning curve compared to Returnal's roguelike mechanics. Saros is set to launch on PlayStation 5 on April 30.
Saros Looks Like Returnal, But Feels Unlike Anything Else Housemarque Has Made - Gamespot
The upcoming game Saros from Housemarque is described as a bullet hell title, distinct from their previous work like Returnal. While not on the author's most anticipated list which includes Grand Theft Auto 6 and Fable, the author notes interest in potential remakes and other titles like Pragmata and Nioh 3.
In pursuit of the ideal roguelike, Saros runs are shorter than Returnal's as Housemarque wanted to "keep the feeling of danger" and "reduce the feeling of helplessness"
Housemarque's upcoming sci-fi roguelike shooter, Saros, will feature shorter runs than Returnal to maintain a sense of danger while reducing player helplessness. Lead game designer Abebe Tinari explains that mechanics like teleportation between areas aim to balance risk and reward, allowing players to practice specific biomes or bosses without committing to a full, lengthy run.
Saros hands-on report: intense sci-fi action in a beautiful, deadly alien world
Housemarque's upcoming PlayStation 5 title, Saros, offers intense sci-fi action with a cosmic horror twist. Players will embody Enforcer Arjun, who resurrects upon death to continue exploring the alien planet Carcosa. The game features deep combat mechanics involving weapon switching, a unique shield system that absorbs enemy projectiles, and an 'eclipse' mechanic that increases risk for greater rewards.
Saros: The Big Preview
Housemarque's upcoming game, Saros, aims to build upon the success of Returnal with a new cosmic horror bullet-fest. Early impressions suggest the game will surpass its predecessor in gameplay and atmosphere.