PlayStation studio Housemarque just revealed their new game Saros, coming to PS5 and PS5 Pro in 2026. After their success with Returnal, they’re now creating something new that builds on their gameplay-first experience while evolving their approach to progression.
The game puts you in control of Arjun Devraj, played by TV actor Rahul Kohli (Midnight Mass, The Fall of the House of Usher). You’ll explore Carcosa, a distant colony trapped in endless darkness under an eclipse. Creative Director Gregory Louden says this game is “the ultimate evolution” of what their studio does best – making games that feel great to play.
The biggest change in Saros is how it handles player progress. In many similar games, dying means starting over. But Saros introduces permanent resources and progression, making every death valuable. When you die, you’ll face a changed world, but you can choose and permanently upgrade your loadout from an evolving set of weapons and suit upgrades to “come back stronger.”
Instead of making a direct sequel to Returnal, the team wanted to try something new. “After Returnal, we knew we had created something special and award-winning, but we also knew we wanted Returnal to stand on its own,” Louden explains. This choice allows them to create a new IP that evolves their deep third-person action and mysterious storytelling.
The game’s permanent progression system represents a significant change from Returnal. Each death reshapes the world while letting players choose their upgrades, potentially making the experience more rewarding with each attempt.
Similar Posts
Housemarque plans to reveal extended gameplay footage later this year. They’ve also promised future announcements about additional cast members and deeper looks into the game’s technology, audio design, art, music, and story elements.
The 2026 release date suggests a substantial development period. As a PS5 and PS5 Pro exclusive, Saros will be developed specifically for these platforms, which logically means it can be optimized for their capabilities.
While specific technical details haven’t been revealed yet, being built exclusively for PS5 and PS5 Pro means Saros can focus on these platforms’ features. Based on typical console exclusives, this could allow for better optimization compared to games that release on multiple generations of hardware.
Players will have to wait for more details about exactly how Saros plays. Following Returnal’s award-winning reception, this new direction with permanent progression shows Housemarque’s evolution of their gameplay-first philosophy.