Housemarque’s next game, Saros, would never have been possible if the studio remained independent, according to its CEO.
Speaking with Finnish publication Helsingin Sanomat, Housemarque CEO Ilari Kuittinen commented on the acquisition of the studio by Sony, saying that it brought some cultural changes to the studio, such as having to conform to Sony’s HR practices, but also more financial resources that have allowed the developer to move to new offices, and effectively make Saros possible, as Housemarque would have never been able as an independent studio to invest as much as was needed for the development of the game, which entered full production in 2022. While the game’s budget hasn’t been revealed, it is, according to Helsegin Sanomat, close to Alan Wake 2’s budget of 70 million euros.
Saros was officially revealed during February’s PlayStation State of Play with a cinematic trailer that provided some hints about the game’s setting and story. While very little is currently known about the gameplay mechanics, the information provided so far suggests Saros will be built upon the mechanics that power Returnal, featuring a world that is constantly reshaped upon each death but also permanent progression systems that will help players overcome the many challenges ahead of them.
Saros is now in development for PlayStation 5. The game will launch sometime in 2026.
