Housemarque has dropped an extended gameplay showcase for its upcoming sci-fi action game Saros, confirming a March 20, 2026 release date on PlayStation 5, with enhancements for PS5 Pro. Captured at 60fps in Unreal Engine 5, the footage highlights both the hostile, shifting world of Carcosa and the evolution of Housemarque’s trademark combat.
A Shifting World: Carcosa
Set on the dangerous, shape-shifting planet of Carcosa, Saros places players in the role of Arjun Devraj (played by Rahul Kohli). Every death reshapes the planet, changing biomes, enemy encounters, and exploration paths. The latest footage showcases environments steeped in ancient civilizations twisted by a looming eclipse. Along the way, Arjun encounters characters such as Nitya Chandran (Shunori Ramanthan), teasing an ensemble-driven story.
Combat Systems – From Returnal to Saros
Housemarque has built Saros’ combat on the foundation of Returnal’s award-winning third-person action but with significant new mechanics:
Soltari Combat Suit: Grants dashes, melee strikes, and loadout choices combining human Soltari weaponry with alien Carcosan tech.
Phosphorous Shotgun: Shown melting enemies in the reveal, alongside enemy bullet patterns that push players to react quickly.
Soltari Shield: Activated with R1, allowing Arjun to absorb hostile projectiles before discharging them as counterattacks.
Carcosan Power Weapons: Corrupt Arjun’s arm into an eclipse-fueled weapon for devastating damage, customizable through progression.
The gameplay reveal emphasized bullet-hell intensity, layered with deeper combat options to encourage experimentation.
Storytelling in Saros
Narrative takes a bigger role than in Returnal. Players uncover Carcosa’s mysteries through:
Voice-acted cinematics and NPC conversations with the ensemble cast.
Soltari Holograms, revealing pieces of the planet’s history.
Surreal story sequences tied to the eclipse and Arjun’s corruption.
A permanent progression system, including upgrades to the combat suit and a “Second Chance” revival ability, ensures runs feel rewarding and layered with choice.
Music, Collaboration, and Creative Partners
Housemarque highlighted the contributions of several PlayStation Studio partners:
Nixxes Software supported gameplay and art systems.
PlayStation Creative Arts returned to craft sound and visuals after their work on Returnal.
Composer Sam Slater, a two-time Grammy winner, is scoring Saros with a dark-electronic meets drone-metal soundtrack, following his acclaimed work on Chernobyl, Joker, and Mandy.
Release Details
Release Date: March 20, 2026
Platforms: PlayStation 5, enhanced for PS5 Pro
Engine: Unreal Engine 5
Performance: Targeting 60fps gameplay
