Released in April 2026 on PS5, Saros had plenty going for it. Developed by Housemarque, the studio behind Returnal, this demanding action game was warmly received by critics, who praised its combat system and the sheer intensity of its fights. Yet despite those qualities, the game clearly didn't find the commercial success it was hoping for. Housemarque is now trying to give it a second wind with Saros Zenith, a free update available from today, 19 October, aimed as much at players who have already finished the adventure as at those still on the fence. In a lengthy write-up on the PlayStation Blog, Abebe Tinari, design director on Saros, explains that the update brings significant changes to the experience. For starters, players can now replay the adventure in 'New Game+', take on bosses back to back and fine-tune the difficulty. Housemarque has also overhauled several accessibility options, so that more people can enjoy the game without losing what makes it interesting in the first place: its difficulty.
More accessible, but without watering down its combat
We're not telling you anything new here, but Saros is built around its ferociously intense fights, where the screen fills with projectiles you have to dodge at just the right moment. That demand is part of its identity, but it can also put off players who struggle to keep up or react quickly enough. Housemarque has therefore chosen not to cut the number of enemy attacks, but to give you more time to respond. The new "Slow Game Speed" option lets you slow the action down so you can read enemy movements better and react to incoming attacks. You can adjust how strong the slowdown is and choose whether it kicks in automatically during fights or is triggered manually when things get too hairy.
Another welcome addition: auto-fire now has your weapon shoot as soon as an enemy is in your sights. This saves you having to hold the fire button down constantly and frees you up to focus on dodging. Reloading remains manual, though, with its timing system to master. Everyone can tailor the controls to their own habits, which should make things easier for anyone put off by the intensity of the opening hours.
A New Game+ for the real warriors
But don't worry, players who already know Carcosa haven't been forgotten — quite the opposite. With the 'Zenith' update, Housemarque has beefed up the Carcosan modifier system, which lets you tweak the game's settings to make progress easier or harder. Ten new protection modifiers are being added for those who want to take the edge off certain sections. One of them even turns corruption, usually a punishing mechanic, into a source of extra damage on melee attacks. Conversely, 10 new trial modifiers make life harder for players who fear nothing. Some enemies now demand a more aggressive approach: they can be stunned by gunfire, but recover quickly and can only be finished off with a melee attack.
Housemarque has also lined up a visual reward for those who impose the toughest rules on themselves. Arjun wears a crown whose appearance grows ever more impressive as the number of active modifiers goes up. This new element also serves to uncover items called "Visions", inscriptions carved into stone that gradually reveal the story of an ancient king. Twelve of these discoveries are scattered across Carcosa, but some can only be reached with a sufficiently developed crown.
Overlord Rush: bosses to smash through back to back
But that's not all, as the update also introduces "Overlord Rush", a mode built for the real warriors — players who want to put their elite skills to the test are going to be delighted. The idea is to take on the game's most powerful bosses in timed battles, with an online leaderboard thrown in so you can measure yourself against everyone else. Two series offer three bosses each and can be cleared in around ten minutes. For those who want to go all the way, the 'Totality' challenge strings all 8 Overlords together in a single run.
So there you have it: by easing players in without blunting its combat with this update, Housemarque could win over those who had remained allergic to the whole thing. Are you tempted now? Let us know in the comments. Oh, hang on, we don't have those yet...
