Saros

What it is

Saros is a single-player, third-person science-fiction shooter developed by Housemarque and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It released on April 30, 2026, for PlayStation 5, with enhancements for PS5 Pro. Housemarque introduced it on February 12, 2025, as a new property rather than a Returnal sequel, carrying forward the studio’s projectile-heavy action into a separate world with a different protagonist and supporting cast.

The PS5 version runs gameplay at 60 frames per second, while key story cinematics use 30fps. PS5 Pro increases the base rendering resolution and uses upgraded PSSR upscaling, alongside adjustments to reflections and other visual details. Both versions support DualSense adaptive triggers, haptic feedback and Tempest 3D Audio.

Development included collaboration with Nixxes, which contributed to the game’s set-piece bosses through encounter design, animation, environments and technical implementation. Housemarque supplied the creative direction, combat foundations and visual concepts, with both teams refining the encounters together.

Story and setting

Players control Arjun Devraj, a Soltari Enforcer performed by Rahul Kohli. His search takes him to Carcosa, a hostile, shape-shifting planet containing a lost off-world colony and the remains of an ancient civilization. An ominous eclipse affects the world and its inhabitants, connecting the story’s mysteries with the dangers encountered during exploration.

Arjun is not the only character on Carcosa. The supporting cast includes Nitya Chandran, performed by Shunori Ramanthan, and Sheridan Bouchard, played by Returnal actor Jane Perry. Characters appear both during exploration and in the Passage, the central hub where runs begin. Conversations, audio logs and Soltari Holograms reveal different perspectives on events and help explain what happened on the planet.

The Passage is a Carcosan temple used by the Echelon IV crew. Alongside its narrative encounters, it houses the systems used to prepare for further expeditions. The eclipse also distorts minds, making hallucination, paranoia and trust part of the story’s officially described premise.

Gameplay and modes

Combat combines shooting with dashing, jumping, melee attacks, shielding and parrying. Arjun uses both human Soltari weapons and alien Carcosan technology. His Soltari Shield can absorb hostile projectiles, collecting energy that powers a separate Carcosan Power Weapon. Correctly timed parries reflect certain attacks back at enemies, adding another defensive response beyond avoiding incoming fire.

Permanent progression distinguishes Saros from a complete reset after every death. Resources collected during expeditions fund upgrades through the Armor Matrix, accessed through the Primary unit in the Passage. Upgrade options include maximum armor integrity, resource acquisition and shield capacity. The unlockable Second Chance ability revives Arjun after his first death, while World Dial Teleportation provides direct access to previously unlocked biomes.

Carcosan Modifiers let players alter the challenge. Protection Modifiers provide advantages, while Trial Modifiers introduce additional dangers or restrictions. Eclipse escalation changes environments, equipment and enemies; corrupted projectiles can reduce maximum armor integrity until that corruption is cleansed using a Power Weapon. These systems sit alongside boss encounters designed around distinct phases, changing arenas and combinations of projectile, environmental and physical attacks.

The game remains single-player, but its available activities extend beyond the original story. The free Zenith update adds Eclipse Layers, the officially named New Game+ mode, and Overlord Rush, a boss-rush activity with online leaderboards. Eclipse Layers becomes available after clearing Saros and requires players to meet modifier thresholds before beginning its more demanding runs.

Reception

Metacritic lists Saros at 87/100 from 137 critic reviews, placing it in the aggregator’s generally favorable category. The published review excerpts particularly emphasize its combat, boss encounters and changes to progression, although assessments of its storytelling are less consistent.

The Irish Independent praises the shooting and escalating spectacle while finding the narrative less convincing than Returnal’s. Eurogamer Portugal likewise highlights the underlying combat but criticizes the narrative’s construction. Giant Bomb’s more reserved review argues that the changes do not all improve on Housemarque’s previous game. The reception therefore supports a distinction between broad enthusiasm for the action and more divided responses to the surrounding story and design choices.

Post-launch updates and editions

Saros: Zenith released on October 19, 2026, at no additional charge for existing owners. Overlord Rush includes separate sets of bosses, culminating in Totality, which chains all eight Overlords into one gauntlet. Online leaderboard comparisons require an internet connection and a PlayStation account; they do not turn the activity into cooperative multiplayer.

Zenith also adds 20 Carcosan Modifiers, modifier mastery, six trophies and additional collectibles associated with Eclipse Layers. Its accessibility additions include adjustable game speed, weapon auto-fire, motion-sensor aiming and high-contrast display options. Photo Mode gains controls for Arjun’s expression and Power Weapon visuals. These additions expand both the post-game activities and the ways players can configure the original experience.

Housemarque’s subsequent patch 02.000.001 adjusts Overdrive charging and time-bonus thresholds in Overlord Rush. It also fixes modifier selections resetting when Unlimited Protection Modifiers is enabled and addresses invisible Lucenite during the boss-rush activity.

The current US PlayStation Store prices are $69.99 for the Standard Edition and $79.99 for the Digital Deluxe Edition. Standard includes the game; Digital Deluxe adds Astra, Onryo and Midgard cosmetic armor inspired by Returnal, Ghost of Yōtei and God of War. A separate $10.00 Digital Deluxe upgrade is available, including for owners of the physical edition. Zenith is not restricted to Deluxe purchasers.