If you are wondering whether Saros is actually Returnal 2 under a different name, Housemarque has said that the studio always wanted and intended for Returnal to stand on its own, and that Saros is a new IP created after that game rather than a direct sequel.
In the original reveal, creative director Gregory Louden said the studio knew after Returnal that it had made something special, but decided to create a new IP instead of continuing that story directly.
Why Saros is not a Returnal sequel
In the February 2025 announcement, the studio said Returnal was created as a stand-alone game without any sequels or continuations planned, and that Saros was a completely new IP that was created after Returnal was already released. That is about as direct as it gets. Saros is not being presented as Returnal 2, not as a continuation of Selene’s story, and not as the next chapter in the same narrative arc.
The setting also points in that direction, as Returnal is centered on Selene Vassos and the hostile planet Atropos, while Saros instead follows Arjun Devraj on Carcosa, another alien world with its own mystery, cast, and story structure.
Unlike Returnal, Saros is going to feature a larger cast of characters and won’t dive into similar themes of solitude and diving into the unknown as Returnal did with Selene.
How is Saros connected to Returnal?
Saros is not a sequel, but it is clearly built on the same game design ideas. Housemarque called the game the ultimate evolution of the gameplay foundation introduced in Returnal, with several systems making their way over from the award-winning third-person bullet hell action.
The core gameplay loop with roguelite elements is also borrowed from Returnal. Both games use repeat-run progression on hostile alien worlds, and both are built around third-person combat and enemies that fill the entire screen with projectiles.
The major difference Housemarque keeps pointing to is progression. In Returnal, death resets most of your progress, while in Saros, death still changes the world, but permanent resources and upgrades carry over, letting players come back stronger after each run.
Ultimately, both Returnal and Saros are their own separate games, but they are closer to one another than any other Housemarque title. This is likely why there is some confusion about their status. But as Housemarque was quick to point out, no, Saros is most definitely not a sequel to Returnal.
Saros is coming to PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro on April 30.
