Housemarque reveals new Saros gameplay with eclipse system and biome teleportation

Housemarque showcased a new trailer for the roguelike Saros at the State of Play presentation, focusing on elements that set it apart from Returnal. The game launches April 30.

Saros is not a direct sequel to Returnal, but it's undeniably a continuation of that game's mechanics. One of the key differences is a significantly larger cast of characters to interact with. Between runs, players will talk to other survivors in The Passage. There are also far more permanent progression options to unlock.

The trailer revealed difficulty customization through toggling abilities on and off. Housemarque emphasized the importance of striking a balance. Players can teleport directly to unlocked biomes – a major departure from Returnal, where levels had to be completed sequentially.

Housemarque also explained how the eclipse system works. Players can manually activate an eclipse, which changes how the world looks and sounds. Enemies become more powerful and deal more damage, but the system offers positive effects as well, making activation worthwhile.