Ever since Housemarque revealed its upcoming PS5 exclusive, Saros, there has been debate over whether it is a direct sequel to Returnal. However, that is not the case; Saros is not a sequel or a prequel to Returnal.
It’s true that both games share a massive amount of developmental DNA, but Saros is forging its own distinct path. Saros and Returnal share the same frantic bullet-hell combat, Giger-inspired alien landscapes, and neon-drenched visual aesthetic. But Saros is not Returnal 2!
Housemarque Confirms Saros is a Brand New IP
Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Despite the glaring visual and mechanical similarities, Saros is not a direct sequel to Returnal. You do not play as Selene Vassos, and the game is not set within the same shared narrative universe.
According to Housemarque, Returnal was designed from the ground up to stand entirely on its own as a complete, self-contained story. While Saros draws on their experience, combined with the developer’s love for third-person action games.
After Returnal we knew we had created something special and award-winning, but we also knew we wanted Returnal to stand on its own. With this in mind, we decided to create a new IP which evolves our deep third-person action and mysterious storytelling.
Creative director Gregory Louden echoed the same sentiment. He described Saros not as a sequel, but rather as the “ultimate evolution” of the Housemarque style (via IGN).
How Saros Learns from Returnal’s Punishing Difficulty
Saros is far more forgiving than Returnal | Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment
While Saros may not be a narrative sequel, it is absolutely a mechanical response to Returnal. The 2021 game was famous for its agonizing difficulty curve. The core difference between the two games lies in how they handle death and progression.
Returnal was a strict roguelike, where when you died, you lost almost all of your accumulated power and had to restart your run. Saros, on the other hand, pivots toward a permanent progression system.
So, when Arjun dies, you retain resources that allow you to upgrade your loadout. This makes every failed run a step toward ultimate victory and grabbing all the trophies.
Here are the other major differences between Returnal and Saros:
FeatureReturnal (2021)Saros (2026)ProtagonistSelene VassosArjun DevrajSettingThe shifting planet AtroposThe off-world colony of CarcosaProgression TypeStrict Roguelike (Lose mostly everything on death)Permanent Progression (Keep resources to upgrade loadouts)Save SystemSuspend Cycle (Added post-launch)Auto-saves and multiple save slots at launchShared Universe?StandaloneStandalone (Brand-new IP)
Are you looking forward to getting your hands on Saros? Which edition do you plan to buy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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