Returnal
News, coverage and analysis tracking Returnal across the outlets.
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Saros: Carcosan Modifiers Guide
This guide explains the Carcosan Modifiers feature in Saros, a mechanic that allows players to customize their experience by applying buffs and debuffs. The feature unlocks after defeating the boss Bastion or by dying four times to the Prophet. Modifiers are activated when the balance dial is set to Balanced or Overloaded, and up to 12 can be used simultaneously.
Games Inbox: Will Marvel’s Wolverine be as good as Spider-Man 2?
Readers discuss the potential of Marvel's Wolverine compared to Marvel's Spider-Man 2, with concerns about its movement and gore. Other topics include the future of digital game distribution, the perceived audience for Steam Machines, and the implications of Nintendo's movie ventures. There's also commentary on game difficulty modifiers, the impact of Grand Theft Auto 6, and PlayStation's digital rights management.
Into the Depths of SAROS’ Carcosa with Housemarque
Housemarque'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.
Returnal Creators Reveal Saros as Dark Successor About Power and Greed | HappyGamer
Housemarque 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.
Pragmata and Saros give hope for the future of big budget video games
The release of new intellectual properties like Pragmata and Saros offers a hopeful contrast to the current trend of sequels and licensed games in the industry. These titles prioritize gameplay and unique experiences, a rarity in modern big-budget development. While Western publishers are increasingly risk-averse, focusing on live service games, Japanese developers like Capcom and Sony Interactive Entertainment are still willing to invest in new IPs, providing a much-needed breath of fresh air.
Games Inbox: What new characters will be in the next Smash Bros.?
Readers discuss potential new characters for a future Super Smash Bros. installment, suggesting characters from Resident Evil and other franchises. The discussion also touches on Nintendo's upcoming Direct presentations and the potential for lower-budget sequels for lapsed franchises like Star Fox and F-Zero.
Corruption in Saros explained
This guide explains the various 'Corruption' mechanics in the game Returnal, including Corrupted Projectiles, Health, Weapons, and Artefacts. Corruption generally refers to systems where beneficial elements also have negative drawbacks, affecting player health, weapon damage, and artifact effects.
How to save in Saros
Saros features a limited, auto-save only system that constantly records progress after most actions, including clearing rooms of enemies or puzzles. While there's no manual save, players can utilize three distinct save slots accessible from the Passage hub zone to manage multiple playthroughs on a single PlayStation 5 file.
You can save £100 on this Ryzen Z2 Extreme-powered MSI Claw A8 handheld from Cyberpower
Cyberpower is offering a £100 discount on the MSI Claw A8 handheld PC, reducing its price to £749. This model features AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, 24GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an 8-inch 1920x1200 IPS touchscreen. While capable of running demanding games at lower settings, it offers a more affordable entry point for high-end handheld gaming.
Games Inbox: Which is better out of Pragmata and Saros?
Readers debate the merits of new sci-fi third-person shooters Pragmata and Saros, with one reader expressing difficulty choosing between them due to simultaneous release and cost. Other topics include the potential impact of Grand Theft Auto 6, the value of Vampire Survivors, Microsoft's Xbox strategy, and recommendations for games similar to Mad Max.
'This Feels Like Nothing Else Out There': Saros Devs on Making Another Standout PS5 Exclusive
Housemarque's Gregory Louden and Simone Silvestri discuss their upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive, Saros. They highlight how the game builds upon the foundations of Returnal, focusing on rewarding progression, accessible difficulty options, and a deeper narrative integration while maintaining the studio's signature gameplay-first approach. The developers emphasize Saros' unique identity and its role as a potential entry point for new players to Housemarque's acclaimed library.
Round Up: Saros PS5 Reviews Rate It as One of the Best Games of 2026
Housemarque's new PlayStation 5 exclusive, Saros, has received near-unanimous praise from critics, positioning it as one of the top-rated games of 2026. Reviewers highlight its refined gameplay, building upon the success of Returnal while offering increased flexibility and challenge. The game is lauded for its atmospheric blend of sci-fi action and eldritch horror, with many finding its narrative and combat deeply engaging.
Saros Gets Major Unreal Engine 5.6 Update on April 29th
Housemarque is releasing a significant update for their shooter Saros on April 29th, integrating Unreal Engine 5.6. This update focuses on substantial performance optimization and stability improvements for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro. Players will need to reset their graphics settings after the update due to new engine features.
Saros Review: Housemarque Delivers Stunning Follow-Up to Returnal
Housemarque's new game, Saros, is receiving glowing reviews as a refined and improved follow-up to Returnal. Built on a customized Unreal Engine 5, Saros is praised for its stunning visuals and challenging yet more approachable gameplay compared to its predecessor. The game is noted for pushing PlayStation 5 hardware, including potential PS5 Pro enhancements, and is seen as a significant step forward for the studio.
Inside Housemarque's improved narrative process for Saros
Housemarque is enhancing its narrative process for the upcoming game Saros, building upon the foundations of Returnal. Creative director Gregory Louden discussed how the studio expanded its narrative team, including hiring a narrative producer and director, and brought in cinematics talent to improve storytelling. The game features a larger cast and story than Returnal, with actors like Rahul Kohli and Jane Perry reprising roles, and emphasizes giving performers more context and preparation time.
What We Played – Saros, Vampire Crawlers & Replaced
Several gaming outlets shared their recent playtime, with Saros being highlighted as an excellent roguelite third-person shooter from Housemarque that refines the genre's formula. Other titles discussed include Moomintroll Winter's Warmth, Tides of Tomorrow, Resident Evil Requiem, Marvel Rivals, Hitman 3, Space Marine 2, Vampire Crawlers, Ground Zero, Breath of Fire III, and Replaced.
Saros Metacritic score makes it one of the best games of the year, putting the cosmic roguelike right behind Resident…
The cosmic roguelike Saros from Housemarque has received strong reviews, achieving a Metacritic score of 88, placing it among the year's best releases. This score surpasses its predecessor, Returnal, which scored an 86. The game features a protagonist investigating a mysterious planet and facing an entity that manipulates the landscape.
Saros review - a tremendous action experience, although its ambitious narrative gets lost in the fireworks
Saros is a top-tier action game from Housemarque that offers thrilling, fast-paced combat and impressive spectacle, building upon the foundations of Returnal. While its moment-to-moment gameplay is exceptional, the game's ambitious narrative struggles to keep pace with the action, and some structural and balancing issues detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, Saros delivers phenomenal action that makes it a standout title in the current landscape of single-player action games.
Saros släpps om en vecka – här är lanseringstrailern
Housemarque's new bullet hell third-person shooter, Saros, is set to launch on April 30th exclusively for PlayStation 5. The game features a roguelite structure where players control Arjun Devraj exploring the constantly changing planet Carcosa, facing tough enemies and challenging bosses.
Saros Review – Haunt Me in All of Your Ways
Saros is a new roguelite third-person shooter that expands upon the mechanics of Returnal with intriguing new settings and characters. The game features challenging bullet-hell gameplay, a narrative exploring madness, and strong voice performances from Rahul Kohli, Jane Perry, and Ben Prendergast. While the ending leaves something to be desired, the overall experience is robust and rewarding, particularly on PlayStation 5.
