Housemarque’s Saros lands April 30 — but is the $10 Early Access worth it?

Why Saros’ preorder news actually matters to PS5 players

This caught my attention because Housemarque isn’t some flash-in-the-pan studio – they turned Returnal into a modern staple for PS5 shooters. Saros arriving April 30 as a PS5 exclusive signals another aggressive, arcade-rooted roguelite aimed squarely at players who like their shooters fast, punishing, and stylish. Preorders are live, and there’s a choice: a $70 physical Standard Edition at retailers, or an $80 Digital Deluxe on the PlayStation Store that tacks on cosmetics and 48‑hour early access.

• Standard Edition (physical) – $70, available at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, GameStop.
• Digital Deluxe Edition – $80 on PS Store, includes three bonus armor suits, preorder Hand of Shore armor, and 48‑hour Early Access (play on April 28).
• All preorders include the Hand of Shore Armor as a bonus.

Key takeaways

• Housemarque’s pedigree with Returnal makes Saros one to watch — expect tight gunfeel and high difficulty.
• $10 for 48 hours early access plus cosmetics is a small premium, but its value depends on how significant those cosmetics or early meta advantages are.
• PS5 exclusivity should mean solid technical polish, but don’t preorder blind — wait for hands-on reviews if you care about frame rates or load times.

Breaking down the editions: what you actually get

Housemarque is keeping things simple: the physical Standard Edition is a traditional $70 release stocked at major retailers, which is good for collectors or anyone who prefers a disc. The Digital Deluxe costs $80 on the PlayStation Store and bundles the game with three named armor suits (Astra, Onryo, Midgard) — each billed as being “inspired by” Returnal, Ghost of Tsushima and God of War respectively — plus the universal preorder Hand of Shore Armor.

The concrete extra here is the 48‑hour Early Access starting April 28 for Digital Deluxe buyers. That’s a two-day head start. For streamers, speedrunners, and people who want to be first in leaderboards or social conversations, that could be worthwhile. For most players it’s a cosmetic/early-bird premium: $10 for two days and a trio of armor sets. Housemarque hasn’t made it crystal-clear whether those suits are purely cosmetic or carry stats, so that’s a legitimate follow-up question for anyone who cares about fairness in roguelites.

What Saros actually plays like — and why Returnal matters

Saros puts you in the boots of Arjun Devraj, a Soltari Enforcer stranded on the hostile Carcosat during a sinister eclipse. The roguelite DNA is explicit: runs, upgrades, permadeath-adjacent systems and a suite of unlockables for future attempts. Housemarque’s signature is built into the details — tight third-person shooting, arcade aggression, and a distinct art direction — but Saros looks to lean more into offensive tools than Returnal did.

Its headline mechanic is the Soltari Shield, which absorbs enemy projectiles and converts that energy into ammo and weapon boosts. The pitch is fun: you’re encouraged to tank and redirect fire instead of only dodging, which changes pacing and makes combat more aggressive and chaotic. The game also offers a “second chance” when Devraj falls, suggesting some middle ground between hardcore permadeath and modern accessibility — a design choice that will matter to anyone who found Returnal’s loop brutal but rewarding.

Should you preorder?

If you loved Returnal and want an early look at Housemarque’s next twist on roguelite shooters, the Digital Deluxe is tempting — especially if being among the first to stream runs or discover metas appeals to you. If you’re buying for cosmetics alone, weigh whether the armor sets are worth $10 and a two-day head start. For critical buyers who care about performance or online features, patience pays: wait for reviews showing how Saros runs on PS5 and whether its progression systems are fair.

One practical tip: if you haven’t played Returnal recently, it’s a good reference point for Saros’ feel — Housemarque nailed weapon feedback and the sense of momentum there. If those aspects matter to you, Saros is probably on your list. If you’re price-sensitive or skeptical of early-access cosmetics, get the $70 physical version or wait for sales.

TL;DR

Housemarque’s Saros looks like the studio’s natural evolution from Returnal: a fast, aggressive roguelite built for PS5. Preorders are live — $70 for physical, $80 Digital Deluxe for cosmetics plus a 48‑hour head start. The Digital Deluxe is worth it if you want early streams or are a diehard fan; everyone else should consider waiting for reviews to judge performance and whether the armor sets change gameplay or are purely cosmetic.