Finnish game studio Housemarque, known for its polished and visually striking shooter games often developed in collaboration with Sony, has been steadily building towards its next major release. In 2021, the studio achieved significant success with Returnal, a critically acclaimed title that quickly led to its acquisition by PlayStation Studios.
Since joining PlayStation Studios, Housemarque has been focused on developing Saros, slated for release on PlayStation 5 on April 30. Whereas not a direct sequel to Returnal, the new game shares thematic and gameplay elements that position it as a spiritual successor, appealing to fans of the studio’s signature style.
To build anticipation, Housemarque and Sony have released a new feature trailer offering a glimpse into the game’s narrative and controls, alongside showcasing gameplay footage. You can view the trailer below.
The acquisition of Housemarque by PlayStation Studios in June 2021 signaled a strategic move to bolster PlayStation’s portfolio of first-party developers. The studio, founded in 1995, has a long history of creating innovative shooter experiences, and its integration into PlayStation Studios promises to further refine its creative vision and expand its reach. Housemarque’s evolution under PlayStation’s umbrella has involved adapting to new operational standards, including human resources policies and security protocols, as detailed in a recent report. This transition has been supported by significant financial investment, enabling the studio to relocate to a larger office in Helsinki and enhance its production capabilities. According to Housemarque CEO Ilari Kuittinen, PlayStation’s backing was essential to making their ambitious new project, Saros, a reality. The game’s development began in 2022 and is now actively underway, with a budget comparable to that of Alan Wake 2, which reportedly cost around €70 million to develop and market. This represents a substantial increase in scale for Housemarque, which previously focused on smaller-scale productions. The financial details of the acquisition itself revealed that Kuittinen and co-founder Harri Tikkanen each received approximately €9.8 million in capital income in 2022, while the studio’s revenue increased from €8.9 million in 2020 to €21.8 million in 2024.
