What is Saros, the 2026 PS5 Exclusive From Returnal Devs?

While PlayStation exclusives have evolved from mascot-focused platformers and first-person shooters to story-driven third-person experiences, developer Housemarque has carved out its own niche. A studio once known for flashy arcade games and small-scale bullet hell titles, it transitioned to larger AAA experiences with the PS5 game Returnal. This title has an interesting narrative to piece together, but it’s not told to players in the same way as a Last of Us or God of War game. Instead, they learn more on each run through Atropos, Returnal’s setting, meaning that the gameplay has to shine to keep players coming back. Fortunately, it does, and the same can be expected from Saros.

Though Saros has the same core traits as Returnal, from the evolving planet to the fast-paced roguelike gameplay full of projectile-dodging, it’s set in its own universe and tells its own story. There may be some fun homages to Selene’s story snuck in, and her actor Jane Perry even has a role in Saros, but players can enjoy new protagonist Arjun’s tale without any knowledge of Returnal. And though Saros may appeal to fans of that game, it’s striving to be more accessible than the project that inspired it thanks to a key mechanical change, something that will hopefully result in more people giving Housemarque’s consistently strong work a chance.

What is Saros About?

Though Saros will be the kind of “gameplay-first experience” one would expect from Housemarque, the studio is still striving to tell a “haunting” story about protagonist Arjun Devraj’s experiences on the planet Carcosa. Arjun seems headstrong and focused, likely because he’s is in search of someone and will “stop at nothing” to find them, and his role as a Soltari Enforcer seemingly explains his combat prowess. He’ll interact with several NPCs throughout his journey, most of which are part of a lost off-world colony trapped on the planet. These interactions will take place in the Passage hub area, with collectible audio logs exploring the backstories of the survivors.

Arjun is played by Rahul Kohli, who had a recurring role on iZombie, as well as standout appearances in Mike Flanagan projects like Midnight Mass and the Haunting of Bly Manor. Beyond that, he’s become a beloved voice in nerd culture, be it through viral social media posts or appearances on video game-oriented YouTube channels like Funhaus.

Housemarque is remaining tight-lipped about the person Arjun is searching for and why he’s so desperate to find them, but it has promised that the story will get darker and more “emotional” as players unravel the mystery. Additionally, an equivalent of Returnal’s first-person segments where players explore Selene’s house will be present, this time taking place in a “mysterious corridor and bedroom.” It can be assumed that, much like Atropos toyed with Selene’s mind, Carcosa will be weaponizing Arjun’s past against him. The planet will be able to shapeshift, and its constant eclipse is both intimidating and tied to a gameplay mechanic.

Saros’ Supporting Cast and Cinematics Set it Apart From Returnal

In Returnal, the story focused entirely on Selene and her many runs through Atropos. Players would find different recordings left by previous versions of Selene, and apart from the protagonist’s Astronaut stalker, she was essentially the sole character of Returnal. This approach allowed for a deep character study, but instead of returning to the well a second time, Housemarque is shaking things up by giving Arjun a crew to look after. This should be a great way to properly reflect the Carcosa eclipse’s effects on humans, as though Arjun may be more mentally resistant to the planet toying with him, his crewmates could struggle more and more.

Sheridan Bouchard is the first member of the supporting cast to be given a name, suggesting she’ll be the most important side character Arjun interacts with. Played by Returnal’s Jane Perry, Bouchard is a character that “doesn’t mess around” and “means business” according to Housemarque. Her role will apparently be “very different” from her portrayal of Returnal protagonist Selene, which suggests her story won’t be driven by obsession and trauma, but something else entirely. A few other NPCs that have been revealed are:

Jerome Jackson: A bearded Australian man who aims a gun at Arjun and has knowledge of past eclipses. He’s played by Ben Prendergast, who portrayed Tyr in God of War Ragnarok.
Sebastian Torres: A bald man who has been driven insane by the planet and attacks the crew. He’s played by David DeSantos.
An unnamed woman who criticizes Arjun for stranding the group without a way home. She’s played by South of Midnight’s Adriyan Raye.
An unknown narrator at the beginning of the trailer played by Shunori Ramanthan. Perhaps this is the character Arjun is looking for?

With multiple characters and an increased focus on storytelling, it’s only natural that cinematics would follow. Top-notch acting and brilliantly directed cutscenes are something that players have come to expect from any PlayStation Studios project, be it Death Stranding 2 or Ghost of Yotei, so it makes sense that Housemarque is striving to up its game in this regard. A deep-dive into the characters of Saros highlighted the game’s cutscenes, and for a first proper attempt at this kind of content, Housemarque seems to be nailing it. Through these cinematics, interactions between Rahul Kohli, Jane Perry, and the rest of the cast should feel more impactful, as a proper spotlight will be placed on their acting. Overall, the story of Saros should feel grander while also being more easily digestible for those who prefer straightforward narratives.

Saros’ Roguelike Gameplay Will Feel Very Familiar to Returnal Fans…

While players starting each run in a proper hub as opposed to a crashed ship is a big change from Returnal, the core gameplay loop is largely the same. Described as a “bullet ballet,” players can expect to dodge countless projectiles from the planet’s hostile flora and fauna, with some of the “hostile creatures” having their own “dark secrets” to uncover. For bosses, it can be assumed that many of these foes will stick to the theme of being a cross between demons and Sun gods, with the Sun being integral to the theme of the game. Players can expect difficult foes that force them to restart time and time again, with it still unclear if there will be shortcuts like the ones Returnal had since the planet changes on every run instead of having set biomes. Even with shortcuts potentially left out, though, Housemarque is making the experience less punishing.

Selene’s ship in Returnal being named after the Sun god Helios has some fans wondering if Housemarque is misleading players and there will be more connective tissue between the games. Alternatively, the ship’s name may have just been a fun tease of sorts from the studio, as perhaps it’s been planning Saros for some time.

…With the Exception of These Key Changes

In Returnal, players kept very little when they restarted, with only the aforementioned shortcuts, traversal tools, and Ether currency carrying over. For those that enjoy challenging roguelikes, this high level of punishment helped make the game great, but it put off lesser-skilled players and scared off some potential buyers. Though Saros will surely still be challenging, it is aiming to be less punishing through permanent suit upgrades and weapon upgrades, meaning that players can start off runs strong to make earlier areas far less challenging. Players being able to pick their starting weapon via loadouts, with progress carrying over, should make the game less intimidating. If that wasn’t enough, a straightforward second chance mechanic is being introduced that allows players to keep fighting after their first death on each run.

Outside of death being slightly less punishing in Saros, Arjun will have a shield that allows him to absorb and, more importantly, parry projectiles back at foes. Games like the award-winning Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have built entire combat systems around parrying, as it’s a game-changing feature for players who are able to master the timing and can lean on it regularly. It can be assumed that the bullet hell will be even hotter in Saros than it was in Returnal to compensate for the shield’s addition, as when coupled with Second Chances and Loadouts, the game could feel too easy otherwise. Players can expect the parry to either have strict timing or cooldowns between uses, but it should be a satisfying tool that further sets Arjun apart from Selene.

Housemarque has briefly mentioned “Eclipse Escalation” as a feature that it will detail in a future PlayStation Blog post, alongside the “Come Back Stronger” system. Based on the name, it can be surmised that as the Eclipse becomes more full, enemies will grow stronger, though there certainly could be more to the mechanic.

What to Expect From Saros’ Launch

saros ps5 release date new gameplay abilities

Saros received a very minor delay and will now be releasing on April 30, 2026. Housemarque has promised that the extra weeks of development time will help it achieve its vision for the game, with the studio promising more details on the game and how it pushes the PS5 to its limits. Though currently unconfirmed, it seems reasonable to expect the DualSense’s adaptive triggers, 3D Audio, and more to be used to their fullest based on Returnal. Similarly, Performance and Fidelity modes are likely, while the controversy in the lead-up to Returnal’s Suspend Cycle mechanic makes it likely for Saros to have a similar “save” feature when it debuts.

Saros’ Digital Deluxe Edition and Pre-Order Bonus

In addition to Saros’ $70 Standard edition, players can purchase the $80 Digital Deluxe Edition. For just $10 more, they’ll receive the following benefits:

48-hour early access
Astra Armor (Returnal-inspired)
Onryo Armor (Ghost of Yotei-inspired)
Midgard Armor (God of War-inspired)

Those that pre-order either addition will get the Hands of Shore Armor, a gorgeous set inspired by the Death Stranding franchise that covers Arjun in white hands, resembling the prints left by BTs, while gold accents represent Chiral Crystals.

Saros’ Potential Post-Launch Support

Whether it be additional suits like in the Marvel’s Spider-Man series, or God of War’s meaty Valhalla expansion, PlayStation exclusives tend to have at least one big, free update after release. Returnal did the same with its enjoyable Tower of Sisyphus, an endless mode that also offered new pieces of story for fans to theorize about. Though it’s purely speculation, a precedent has been set for a similar form of content for Saros, and it would be a natural fit. Even if Housemarque were to go in a different direction with its post-launch update, though, it’s safe to expect that it will eventually drop one, alongside the usual patches that fix bugs and make minor additions.

With Saros on the Horizon, One PlayStation Release Feels Inevitable

The best way to summarize Saros is as a more accessible take on Returnal. Whether it’s the “ambitious” narrative that has a presentation more comparable to the typical PlayStation Studios fare, or each run making players noticeably stronger, Saros aims to keep what made Returnal special while appealing to a wider audience. Players shouldn’t expect a cakewalk, though, as every Housemarque game has been difficult, be it the title Saros takes inspiration from or forgotten gems like Nex Machina. From the beloved actor playing Arjun to a winning combat formula being deepened by mechanics like parrying, Saros has seemingly everything going for it.