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 today's PlayStation State of Play, Saros retains the signature Housemarque style. Players assume the role of Arjun Devraj, a Solatri enforcer investigating a treacherous, ever-changing planet shrouded in an eclipse and menaced by a formidable entity. The game's atmosphere strongly echoes Returnal, particularly with the "come back stronger" theme hinting at its roguelike mechanics and the fiery spectacle reminiscent of Housemarque's signature bullet-hell action.

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

However, Saros introduces significant gameplay departures from its predecessor. According to Louden's PlayStation Blog post, a key difference lies in the implementation of persistent resources and progression. Although the game world alters upon player death, players will retain permanent upgrades for their weapons and suits.

Further details are promised later this year, with Housemarque planning to showcase extended gameplay footage.

For a comprehensive overview of today's PlayStation State of Play announcements, consult our detailed recap.