New exclusive Saros PS5 footage shows off Crowd Control and Wall Rebound

Sony offered a deeper look Saros with the release of a brand new gameplay snippet. This latest update from the developers is designed to give fans a taste of the frantic action and atmospheric world-building they can expect very soon. Latest footage from Saros highlights how players will handle large groups of enemy creatures using various high-tech tools. While many of the game's deepest secrets are still under wraps, these first glimpses confirm that a fast-paced, challenging adventure is just around the corner.

The studio in charge of the project has an impressive track record. Housemarque, the game's Finnish development team, became a major name for PlayStation owners after the game's success Returna game that won fans over with its dark sci-fi setting and intense roguelike difficulty. Since then, the industry has been waiting for the developer to repeat this successful formula for a sequel.

Saros is the next best thing after Returnal 2

Housemarque's next game, Saros, has just been announced, and while it's not a direct sequel to Returnal, it looks like the next best thing.

Explore the shape-shifting planet Carosa

While the latest clip is only about 20 seconds long, it reveals a lot about how the fight has changed. The footage shows protagonist Arjun Devraj fighting against large hordes of enemies, a big shift from earlier trailers that focused on individual giant bosses. One of the more interesting details from the video is the ability to bounce shots off walls and other objects. This “bounce off the wall” mechanic means the player can hit enemies hiding behind cover or clear a narrow corridor by filling it with bouncing projectiles. This adds a lot of strategy to the shooting, making the environment as important as the weapons the player carries.

Who is that character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Who is that character?

Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.

Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)

Arjun has access to all sorts of high-tech defense equipment to help him survive these intense firefights. For example, players can activate the Soltari Shield by holding R1. This shield doesn't just block incoming bullets; it actually catches them and turns their energy into a resource for the player. Once players have absorbed enough energy, they can fire back with the Carcosan Power Weapon by pressing the R2 button. This powerful blast can clear entire groups of enemies at once with an explosive burst of energy. Even if Arjun happens to fall in battle, he has a “Second Chance” ability that allows him to use a special corruption energy to come back to life once per run.

Saros is designed as a roguelite, which means that while players lose some progress when they die, the character keeps getting stronger over time. To make the game fun for everyone, Housemarque has included “Carcosan Modifiers”. These are settings that can change the difficulty of the game. “Protection” mods make things easier for players who just want to see the story, while “Trial” mods make enemies much more aggressive for those who want a real challenge. This ensures that the fast-paced bullet hell action is accessible to all types of players, while delivering the sci-fi power fantasy that the studio is known for.

The release is currently set for April 30th and will only be available on PlayStation 5. While many fans were hoping for a PC version, Sony is reportedly doubling down on console exclusivity to ensure people have a reason to buy its hardware. Industry analyst Jason Schreier noted in a Bloomberg report that while multiplayer games may still go to PC, major single-player hits like Saros and Spirit of Yōtei will remain on PS5. For those who can't wait to get started, pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition Saros will provide early access to the game two days before the official launch. This special edition also comes with different suits inspired by other massive PlayStation franchises, giving Arjun a look that honors Sony's long history of early hits.