Saros is the spiritual successor to Returnal, intensifying roguelike mechanics while introducing numerous technical innovations. The team detailed how they shaped the visual identity and gameplay, saying that “every system, effect, and bullet trajectory is designed to push the game’s momentum.”
Art director Simone Silvestri describes the visual approach as a blend of neoclassicism and Italian futurism. Players will traverse Karkozas, a continually shifting realm that merges organic splendour with disquieting geometry, crafted to pull explorers progressively deeper.
The protagonist, Arjun Devaraj, departs from Selene’s profile and leans more heavily into combat, wielding the Soltari Shield that absorbs incoming fire. According to game designer Abebe Tinari, this introduces “a different take on chaos—one that lets you grow stronger and amplify your firepower.” The shield mechanic reshapes enemy bullet patterns and the design of many puzzles.
On a technical level, Saros expands on ideas from Returnal: dynamic lighting, multi-layered particle systems, and rigid-body simulation. Projectiles “have never looked so crisp or felt so kinetic.” Environmental destruction feels more authentic, and the studio’s signature “tentacle technology” makes a comeback.
Saros combines hand-crafted animation with procedural systems to give simulated limbs, cables, and organic forms both realism and unpredictability. Everything obeys physics, injecting a chaotic, living energy into each scene.
Saros launches on March 20, 2026 for the PS5.
Source: iXBT.games