Saros - Pre-Order Trailer | PS5 Games: Housemarque’s Returnal Successor Gets New Date and Story Details

Developer Housemarque, the acclaimed studio behind the PS5 hit Returnal, utilized The Game Awards 2025 to debut the latest pre-order trailer for their next major title, Saros. The new footage provided the most detailed look yet at the game’s mysterious, haunting narrative and showcased the evolution of the studio’s signature third-person "bullet ballet" combat.

While the trailer generated significant excitement, it also came with a minor announcement: Saros has been delayed slightly from its original March 20, 2026, date to a new worldwide launch of April 30, 2026. The move ensures the PlayStation 5 exclusive meets the studio’s ambitious vision for their most narrative-driven and technically complex game to date.

The Haunting Narrative of Carcosa

Saros centers its sci-fi action on the lost off-world colony of Carcosa, a hostile, shape-shifting planet locked under an ominous, permanent eclipse. The story follows protagonist Arjun Devraj, a powerful Soltari Enforcer, who is on a relentless mission to find a lost individual and uncover the dark secrets of the colony.

Housemarque has emphasized that Saros is its most ambitious story yet, focusing on an emotional and powerful character study. The trailer highlights an impressive ensemble cast, led by actor Rahul Kohli (*Midnight Mass*) as Arjun Devraj. Also confirmed to be joining the cast is Jane Perry, who famously played Selene Vassos in Returnal, signaling a spiritual link between the two titles through shared talent.

Evolution of the 'Bullet Ballet' Gameplay

The core gameplay of Saros remains a fast-paced, third-person action shooter, building directly on the intense, neon-fueled spectacle Housemarque calls "bullet ballet." However, the studio is introducing key changes to address feedback and evolve the roguelike formula:

Permanent Progression: A major distinction from Returnal is the inclusion of permanent progression systems. While the world of Carcosa changes after every death, players can permanently upgrade their loadout and resources, ensuring every run and death is valuable and allows them to “come back stronger.”
New Parry Mechanic: Arjun is equipped with advanced combat gear, including a new Parry ability. This move allows players to reflect certain projectiles back at enemies with perfect timing, adding a new layer of skill and defense to the already frantic combat.
Arsenal: The game will feature a mix of Soltari human weaponry and Carcosan alien weaponry, which players can select and upgrade at the Passage, the central hub where each run begins.

Release Date and Pre-Order Details

Saros will launch exclusively for the PlayStation 5 and will be enhanced for the PS5 Pro. The official release date is now set for April 30, 2026. Pre-orders for the title are now live on the PlayStation Store.

For players eager to jump in early, the Digital Deluxe Edition offers a 48-hour headstart, allowing access two days before the official launch. The Digital Deluxe package also includes bonus armor sets for Arjun, inspired by classic PlayStation Studios titles like Returnal, God of War, and Ghost of Yotei, along with the pre-order bonus "Hands of Shore Armour."