Digital Foundry has offered an early technical breakdown of Saros, the upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive from Housemarque, following the debut of its extended gameplay showcase. The game, which has drawn comparisons to Returnal, appears to continue the studio’s trademark focus on fast-paced combat and heavy engine customization.
During the discussion, Alex noted the challenges of identifying Unreal Engine 5 features in the footage, given the game’s dark atmospheric design. “When you look through it for hallmarks of Unreal Engine 5 technologies, I don’t actually think you come across them so easily. Part of that is due to the darkness in the environmental art making it hard to make uh decisions like from my perspective like whether this is the thing we’re seeing on screen,” he said. He added that Housemarque has historically made extensive modifications to their tools, pointing to Returnal’s custom lighting system built to support procedurally generated environments.
The gameplay reveal highlighted Saros as a bullet-hell third-person shooter, staying true to Housemarque’s roots while introducing fresh mechanics. Among them is an active shield system that allows players to absorb enemy projectiles and then redirect them back, adding a layer of tactical play. Unlike Returnal, which was known for its punishing loop, Saros promises more persistent progression between deaths, potentially broadening its appeal.
Oliver observed that the game seems to be targeting 60 frames per second on the standard PS5, with internal resolutions ranging between 1080p and 1152p. While this means image quality may not be cutting edge, the focus on fluid performance continues Housemarque’s reputation for prioritizing responsive gameplay.
Richard praised Sony’s commitment to publishing games like Saros, describing it as a refreshing contrast to criticism about the company’s first-party lineup. With a release date confirmed for March 2026, Digital Foundry speculated that the game could see enhancements on the PS5 Pro, especially given the studio’s strong track record with performance improvements in Returnal’s PC version.
As Housemarque celebrates its 30th anniversary, the podcast also touched on the possibility of upgrading classic titles such as Resogun and Super Stardust for PlayStation 5. However, the team acknowledged that the developer’s focus remains firmly on Saros.
Saros is set to launch in March 2026 exclusively for PlayStation 5.
