Saros Unveiled: Housemarque’s New Bullet‑Hell Roguelike Adds Permanent Upgrades — Out March 20, 2026

Housemarque and Sony used Wednesday’s State of Play to show an extended look at Saros, the studio’s next bullet-hell roguelike. The trailer reveals combat, abilities and a firm release date: March 20, 2026, for PlayStation 5.

1. Gameplay overview
2. Abilities shown
3. Progression and difficulty changes
4. Tech, DualSense and Returnal context
5. Release and where to watch

Gameplay overview

The trailer sets player character Arjun Devraj on the hostile planet Carcosa, and shows both mechanical and horrifying foes swarming the screen. As expected, Saros leans into classic Housemarque action: fast-paced shooting, dense projectile patterns, and constant movement. Importantly, the character is portrayed by actor Rahul Kohli, who appears in the footage.

Meanwhile, the studio called Saros the “ultimate evolution of the Housemarque gameplay-first experience” on the PlayStation Blog, adding that the game iterates on the formula fans know.

Abilities shown

The trailer and blog details highlight a few named systems. First, the Soltari Shield can defend Arjun and absorb enemy projectiles — a handy tool in a bullet-hell title. Second, a Second Chance ability lets the player revive after their first death, so runs don’t immediately end.

Additionally, Housemarque showcased how the DualSense adaptive triggers will affect gunplay, mentioning *eclipse-driven weaponry* that responds to the controller’s features.

Progression and difficulty changes

Crucially, Saros will include permanent upgrades between runs. That means players can strengthen Arjun’s suit and weapons across attempts. Therefore, the game may be more approachable than Returnal, since progression persists rather than resetting entirely.

Tech, DualSense and Returnal context

Housemarque’s previous PS5 title, Returnal, showed strong DualSense and visual features at launch. Returnal used haptic feedback and ray tracing, and later received a free Ascension update in 2022 that added co-op and the endless Tower of Sisyphus mode. By contrast, Saros emphasizes similar modern controller features while changing progression to be less punishing.

Release and where to watch

Saros is due on March 20, 2026, exclusively for PlayStation 5. For the full gameplay trailer and the extended look shown during State of Play, watch the official video above. For the developer’s announcement and more context, see the PlayStation Blog post linked earlier.