Saros is getting a major free update later this year that significantly expands what players can do after finishing Housemarque’s latest sci-fi shooter. The announcement comes several months after Saros launched on PS5 to strong critical acclaim.
Saros’ unique design is built around permanent progression and resource systems, with protagonist Arjun Devraj growing stronger as players explore a constantly changing Carcosa. That structure gives the game a different identity from Returnal, while retaining Housemarque’s familiar emphasis on fast gameplay, projectile-heavy combat, and difficult encounters. The next update will expand that experience after players master those systems, giving Saros a more substantial endgame.
Saros Zenith Update Adds Boss Rush, New Game Plus, and More
Housemarque revealed the free Saros Zenith update during PlayStation’s September State of Play, confirming that it will arrive later in 2026 with two major new modes. The first is Overlord Rush, a boss rush mode that pits players against the game’s Overlords one after another, with performance tracked on online leaderboards. Saros’ second new mode is Eclipse Layers, which serves as a take on New Game Plus, allowing players who have completed the story to restart a significantly tougher version while continuing to develop Arjun’s abilities. Players will also gain access to new Carcosan Modifiers, hidden secrets, and additional trophies as they progress through Eclipse Layers.
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Overlord Rush seems particularly fitting for Housemarque to add in this update. Before games such as Returnal and Saros placed a greater emphasis on narrative and exploration for the studio, the developer built much of its reputation around arcade-style experiences, including Resogun, Nex Machina, and Super Stardust. Adding in scores and worldwide rankings to Saros lets players approach the game differently and may bring a more competitive arcade mentality into what is otherwise a single-player experience. The mode itself is even described as a deliberate callback to the arcade-style experiences that established Housemarque’s style.
Meanwhile, Eclipse Layers could ultimately have a huge effect on the game’s replayability. Instead of simply increasing enemy health or damage in New Game Plus, the mode lets players continue progressing Arjun while introducing Carcosan Modifiers that can alter subsequent playthroughs. Moreover, new secrets and trophies should provide additional incentives to search through Carcosa again rather than simply rushing through familiar areas. Combined with Overlord Rush, the new Zenith update gives players two very different reasons to return, either replaying the entire Saros campaign under tougher conditions or concentrating on mastering its biggest fights.
However, Zenith is not exclusively making Saros harder or just focusing on game mode additions. Housemarque is also adding gyro aiming, high-contrast visuals, and an option to slow the game speed, giving players more ways to adjust to its frantic action. That makes Zenith quite a substantial update, with tougher challenges, new game modes, and leaderboards while also adding tools to make the game more approachable. Between New Game Plus, boss rush competitions with friends, expanded progression, new trophies, and accessibility improvements, Zenith looks like a substantial second phase for one of PS5’s major 2026 releases.
- Released
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April 30, 2026
- ESRB
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Teen / Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
