Saros Is Housemarque’s Successor to Returnal, Arriving in 2026

Housemarque unveils Saros, the highly anticipated successor to the acclaimed 2022 roguelite shooter, Returnal. Starring Rahul Kohli, Saros is slated for a 2026 release on PlayStation 5, with enhanced features for the PS5 Pro.

Unveiled during the recent PlayStation State of Play, Saros retains the signature Housemarque aesthetic. Players take on the role of Arjun Devraj, a Solatri enforcer investigating a treacherous, ever-changing planet shrouded in an eclipse and menaced by formidable entities. The game's atmosphere strongly echoes Returnal, with the recurring phrase "come back stronger" hinting at its roguelike elements, and the fiery spectacle suggesting the developer's signature bullet-hell style.

Creative director Gregory Louden describes Saros as the "ultimate evolution" of Housemarque's gameplay-centric design philosophy. While a new single-player IP, it builds upon the third-person action mechanics established in Returnal.

However, Saros introduces significant gameplay innovations. According to Louden's PlayStation Blog post, a key difference lies in the implementation of persistent resources and progression. While the game world dynamically shifts upon player death, players will retain and permanently upgrade their weapons and suits.

Further details and an extended gameplay showcase are promised later this year. For a comprehensive overview of the PlayStation State of Play announcements, refer to our recap.