{"id":1933225,"date":"2026-05-13T15:08:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T12:08:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1933225"},"modified":"2026-05-13T15:08:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T12:08:34","slug":"ps5-exclusive-saros-gets-off-to-lukewarm-start-with-around-300000-copies-sold-according-to-analyst-data","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1933225","title":{"rendered":"PS5 Exclusive Saros Gets Off to &#8216;Lukewarm&#8217; Start With Around 300,000 Copies Sold, According to Analyst Data"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-cy=\"article-content\" class=\"jsx-2870106660 article-content page-0\">\n<section data-cy=\"article-subtitle\" class=\"article jsx-3932497636 article-section jsx-28683165 news\" data-autopogo=\"true\">\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">PlayStation 5 exclusive <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/saros\"><u>Saros<\/u><\/a> has sold around 300,000 copies in its opening fortnight, generating over $22 million in revenue, according to analyst data.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Analytics firm <a href=\"https:\/\/alineaanalytics.substack.com\/p\/saros-sells-300k-in-its-first-two\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>Alinea Analytics<\/u><\/a> called the debut &#8220;slow but interesting,&#8221; albeit tagging it as a &#8220;niche game&#8221; that&#8217;s currently only playable on Sony&#8217;s console. It&#8217;s selling &#8220;a little slower&#8221; than Sony-owned studio Housemarque&#8217;s previous game, Returnal, Alinea Analytics added.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Analyst Rhys Elliott suggested that Returnal&#8217;s stronger 2021 launch could be down to a smaller number of console-exclusive first-party games available at the time, suggesting it appealed to &#8220;early adopters&#8221; of the PS5 who &#8220;inherently buy a lot of new games at full price&#8221; and were &#8220;dying for something to play.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">The 100 Best PlayStation Games of All Time<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"100. Ape Escape\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"99. Crash Team Racing\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 100 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"98. Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"97. Tearaway\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"96. Deathloop\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"95. Jak 2\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Saros, on the other hand, follows on the heels of <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/crimson-desert\"><u>Crimson Desert<\/u><\/a>, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/pragmata\"><u>Pragmata<\/u><\/a>, and <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/resident-evil-requiem\"><u>Resident Evil Requiem<\/u><\/a>, leaving it fighting for space Returnal didn&#8217;t have to compete with.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;It really is a shame, as Saros is a fantastic game and frankly deserves better numbers than this,&#8221; Elliot said. &#8220;But 3D bullet-hell-type games, especially those with a $70+ price tag, are a tough sell in today\u2019s market. Particularly without a big IP behind it, or a studio that\u2019s recognised outside of the PlayStation hardcore.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">It&#8217;s not all bad news for Housemarque, though. The data suggests the people who <em>have<\/em> bought Saros are loving it and sticking with the game. &#8220;The DAU data is where things get a bit more encouraging,&#8221; Elliott wrote. &#8220;Saros launched with around 43,000 daily players on its early-access day (29 April), then jumped to 83,000 on its full-launch day (30 April), and peaked at almost 142,000 on May 2. The post-launch curve has held up well, too, with DAUs settling into a 115-140,000 range across the first 10 days, only dipping below 100,000 once (May 11, at 96,000).&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"233646\">\n<div class=\"jsx-3980863763 catalog-wrapper\"><span data-cy=\"productcard-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"233646\" data-cy=\"solo-product-card\" class=\"solo-product SoloProduct_solo-product__r2_WP\">\n<div class=\"card jsx-722342313 jsx-3341285356 product-card SoloProduct_product-card__JSk8u\">\n<div class=\"product-thumbnail jsx-2285132617 SoloProduct_image__vqG4e\"><a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/9wj6E6?object_uuid=b98ed13b-ed3a-49b0-9775-f3eb646a5408&amp;t=article\" title=\"Saros (PS5)\" data-aps-asin=\"B0G5RRPGFF\" class=\"jsx-3288811812 product-image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-1-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Saros (PS5)\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-1809694635 jsx-2338608387 expand\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2025\/12\/15\/saros-ps5-1765807906289.jpg?width=220&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"solo-product-name\" class=\"name SoloProduct_name__s0XeA\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2827240024 name balanced\">Saros (PS5)<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button jsx-3381835873 jsx-3347269829 icon-button catalog-upvote SoloProduct_catalog-upvote__FWsVx centered disabled\" disabled type=\"button\" title=\"Vote\" aria-label=\"Vote\" data-cy=\"catalog-upvote\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-rating-like jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-rating-like\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">3<\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider SoloProduct_divider__dWiDk jsx-71571950\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"vendor SoloProduct_vendor__Znmjy\" data-cy=\"vendor\"><a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/9wj6E6?object_uuid=b98ed13b-ed3a-49b0-9775-f3eb646a5408&amp;t=article\" class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button jsx-3381835873 button--vendor jsx-1792814278 jsx-4198390806 contained full-width small\" data-aps-asin=\"B0G5RRPGFF\" data-cy=\"vendor-link-btn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 vendor-text small\" data-cy=\"vendor-text-full-price\">$69.99<!-- --> at <!-- -->Amazon<\/span><span class=\"ign-icon icon-top-right-arrow jsx-2750866048 jsx-4173866675\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-top-right-arrow\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>{&#8220;@context&#8221;:&#8221;http:\/\/schema.org\/&#8221;,&#8221;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Product&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;Saros (PS5)&#8221;,&#8221;image&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2025\/12\/15\/saros-ps5-1765807906289.jpg&#8221;,&#8221;offers&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Offer&#8221;,&#8221;priceCurrency&#8221;:&#8221;USD&#8221;,&#8221;price&#8221;:69.99,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/zdcs.link\/9wj6E6&#8243;,&#8221;seller&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Organization&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;Amazon&#8221;}}}<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Returnal is known for its difficulty, but Saros has auto-saves enabled and multiple save slots available, something Returnal did not have at launch. While Saros still poses a similar level of challenge in its action as its predecessor, it does come packed with some added kindness, with Housemarque taking feedback from Returnal on board when designing Saros.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cI think the lesson we learned from Returnal was that people really loved what we created, and we were going on the right track,\u201d Saros\u2019 creative director, Gregory Louden, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/housemarque-has-made-ps5-exclusive-saros-kinder-in-response-to-returnal-feedback-but-its-still-fundamentally-difficult\">told IGN ahead of the game&#8217;s release<\/a>. \u201cBut I think the feedback we did get is that more players wanted to love Returnal; they wanted to get further. So for us, it was about providing that ability. So it means we don&#8217;t dilute the challenge; there&#8217;s still a very challenging game there, but there is also the ability to kind of modify the challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The upshot, according to Elliot, is that Saros may struggle to break even, but as a PS5 exclusive there&#8217;s more to consider. &#8220;Exclusives sell consoles, and then inertia from previous generations does the rest, and the real PlayStation money is made on third-party launches and legacy third-party live services,&#8221; Elliot said. &#8220;Plenty of core PlayStation players have picked up Saros, which is the underlying job an exclusive is meant to do.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2021719738 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">One of the question marks around Saros is whether it will eventually release on PC, as Returnal did. <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/tech-boss-of-developer-sony-is-shutting-down-thinks-playstation-has-pulled-back-from-pc-in-response-to-steam-machine\">Sony is reportedly pulling back from PC to focus on PS5 exclusives again<\/a>, and there&#8217;s no indication Saros will leave the console. While this may boost PS5, it does mean Saros will miss out on generating revenue via Steam. In late April, former PlayStation exec Shuhei Yoshida suggested that <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/former-playstation-exec-wonders-how-sony-will-maintain-investment-in-first-party-games-without-releasing-them-on-pc\">Sony will struggle to recoup the huge budgets invested in its first-party games without porting them to PC<\/a>. &#8220;Releasing games on PC after a couple of years must have helped recoup the investment of these big budget games and help[ed] the team and company to reinvest that money into their new games,&#8221; Yoshida said. &#8220;So, from a business standpoint, I think it made sense for me.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;If they were releasing new AAA games day one on other platforms, I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a good strategy for [a] platform holder like PlayStation. I\u2019m not seeing any proof of them changing their strategy this generation, but if they are changing its going to be interesting how they are able to maintain the investment on the big budget games on the first-party side going forward.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">IGN&#8217;s <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/saros-review\">Saros review<\/a> returned a 7\/10. We said: &#8220;Saros tries at an interesting and ambitious story it isn&#8217;t always able to effectively tell, but Housemarque has once again proved that its bullet-hell sensibilities mesh incredibly well with fluid and challenging action.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world&#8217;s biggest gaming sites and publications. She&#8217;s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/vixx.bsky.social\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>BlueSky<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/section>\n<p><span class=\"stack jsx-1475529924\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jsx-2155806329 bobble bobble-1 pogocnt pg-article\">\n<div data-mix-name=\"secondaryMedrec\" data-pos=\"1\" data-pogo-hide=\"1\" class=\"jsx-343126785 pogo-slot\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<section class=\"article-page\">\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">PlayStation 5 exclusive <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/saros\"><u>Saros<\/u><\/a> has sold around 300,000 copies in its opening fortnight, generating over $22 million in revenue, according to analyst data.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Analytics firm <a href=\"https:\/\/alineaanalytics.substack.com\/p\/saros-sells-300k-in-its-first-two\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><u>Alinea Analytics<\/u><\/a> called the debut &#8220;slow but interesting,&#8221; albeit tagging it as a &#8220;niche game&#8221; that&#8217;s currently only playable on Sony&#8217;s console. It&#8217;s selling &#8220;a little slower&#8221; than Sony-owned studio Housemarque&#8217;s previous game, Returnal, Alinea Analytics added.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Analyst Rhys Elliott suggested that Returnal&#8217;s stronger 2021 launch could be down to a smaller number of console-exclusive first-party games available at the time, suggesting it appealed to &#8220;early adopters&#8221; of the PS5 who &#8220;inherently buy a lot of new games at full price&#8221; and were &#8220;dying for something to play.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"jsx-2228525885\"><\/button><span data-cy=\"slideshow-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-preview\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 slideshow-preview\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-1085005187\" data-cy=\"slideshow-preview-title\">The 100 Best PlayStation Games of All Time<\/h3>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-container\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 images-container\"><button type=\"button\" data-cy=\"hero-image\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 hero-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"100. Ape Escape\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button button--primary jsx-3381835873 jsx-4266531355 row-pagination-button next contained centered round large\" data-cy=\"paginate next\" title=\"Open Slideshow\"><span class=\"ign-icon right-chevron jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"right-chevron\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"slideshow-images-list\" class=\"scrollbar jsx-2072772685 jsx-4243969252 images-list\"><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"99. Crash Team Racing\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rounded jsx-412047461 overlay progressive-image jsx-2338608387 expand\" data-cy=\"slideshow-image-overlay\">\n<div data-cy=\"element-caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">View 100 Images<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"98. Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"97. Tearaway\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"96. Deathloop\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><button data-cy=\"gallery-image\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Open Slideshow\" class=\"jsx-1711207865 gallery-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"95. Jak 2\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-2021719738 image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9 jsx-2605834259 jsx-2338608387 hover-opacity\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Saros, on the other hand, follows on the heels of <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/crimson-desert\"><u>Crimson Desert<\/u><\/a>, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/pragmata\"><u>Pragmata<\/u><\/a>, and <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/games\/resident-evil-requiem\"><u>Resident Evil Requiem<\/u><\/a>, leaving it fighting for space Returnal didn&#8217;t have to compete with.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;It really is a shame, as Saros is a fantastic game and frankly deserves better numbers than this,&#8221; Elliot said. &#8220;But 3D bullet-hell-type games, especially those with a $70+ price tag, are a tough sell in today\u2019s market. Particularly without a big IP behind it, or a studio that\u2019s recognised outside of the PlayStation hardcore.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">It&#8217;s not all bad news for Housemarque, though. The data suggests the people who <em>have<\/em> bought Saros are loving it and sticking with the game. &#8220;The DAU data is where things get a bit more encouraging,&#8221; Elliott wrote. &#8220;Saros launched with around 43,000 daily players on its early-access day (29 April), then jumped to 83,000 on its full-launch day (30 April), and peaked at almost 142,000 on May 2. The post-launch curve has held up well, too, with DAUs settling into a 115-140,000 range across the first 10 days, only dipping below 100,000 once (May 11, at 96,000).&#8221;<\/p>\n<div id=\"233646\">\n<div class=\"jsx-3980863763 catalog-wrapper\"><span data-cy=\"productcard-view-trigger\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"233646\" data-cy=\"solo-product-card\" class=\"solo-product SoloProduct_solo-product__r2_WP\">\n<div class=\"card jsx-722342313 jsx-3341285356 product-card SoloProduct_product-card__JSk8u\">\n<div class=\"product-thumbnail jsx-2285132617 SoloProduct_image__vqG4e\"><a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/9wj6E6?object_uuid=b98ed13b-ed3a-49b0-9775-f3eb646a5408&amp;t=article\" title=\"Saros (PS5)\" data-aps-asin=\"B0G5RRPGFF\" class=\"jsx-3288811812 product-image aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-1-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Saros (PS5)\" class=\"progressive-image jsx-1809694635 jsx-2338608387 expand\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2025\/12\/15\/saros-ps5-1765807906289.jpg?width=220&amp;format=jpg&amp;auto=webp&amp;quality=80\" data-cy=\"progressive-image\"><\/a><\/div>\n<div data-cy=\"solo-product-name\" class=\"name SoloProduct_name__s0XeA\">\n<h3 class=\"title5 jsx-62124236 jsx-2827240024 name balanced\">Saros (PS5)<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button jsx-3381835873 jsx-3347269829 icon-button catalog-upvote SoloProduct_catalog-upvote__FWsVx centered disabled\" disabled type=\"button\" title=\"Vote\" aria-label=\"Vote\" data-cy=\"catalog-upvote\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-rating-like jsx-2750866048 jsx-2919720488\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-rating-like\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"caption\" class=\"caption jsx-1762799490\">3<\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider SoloProduct_divider__dWiDk jsx-71571950\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"vendor SoloProduct_vendor__Znmjy\" data-cy=\"vendor\"><a href=\"https:\/\/zdcs.link\/9wj6E6?object_uuid=b98ed13b-ed3a-49b0-9775-f3eb646a5408&amp;t=article\" class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 button jsx-3381835873 button--vendor jsx-1792814278 jsx-4198390806 contained full-width small\" data-aps-asin=\"B0G5RRPGFF\" data-cy=\"vendor-link-btn\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"button-text jsx-729543028 vendor-text small\" data-cy=\"vendor-text-full-price\">$69.99<!-- --> at <!-- -->Amazon<\/span><span class=\"ign-icon icon-top-right-arrow jsx-2750866048 jsx-4173866675\" role=\"presentation\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-cy=\"icon-top-right-arrow\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>{&#8220;@context&#8221;:&#8221;http:\/\/schema.org\/&#8221;,&#8221;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Product&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;Saros (PS5)&#8221;,&#8221;image&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/assets-prd.ignimgs.com\/2025\/12\/15\/saros-ps5-1765807906289.jpg&#8221;,&#8221;offers&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Offer&#8221;,&#8221;priceCurrency&#8221;:&#8221;USD&#8221;,&#8221;price&#8221;:69.99,&#8221;url&#8221;:&#8221;https:\/\/zdcs.link\/9wj6E6&#8243;,&#8221;seller&#8221;:{&#8220;@type&#8221;:&#8221;Organization&#8221;,&#8221;name&#8221;:&#8221;Amazon&#8221;}}}<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">Returnal is known for its difficulty, but Saros has auto-saves enabled and multiple save slots available, something Returnal did not have at launch. While Saros still poses a similar level of challenge in its action as its predecessor, it does come packed with some added kindness, with Housemarque taking feedback from Returnal on board when designing Saros.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">\u201cI think the lesson we learned from Returnal was that people really loved what we created, and we were going on the right track,\u201d Saros\u2019 creative director, Gregory Louden, <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/housemarque-has-made-ps5-exclusive-saros-kinder-in-response-to-returnal-feedback-but-its-still-fundamentally-difficult\">told IGN ahead of the game&#8217;s release<\/a>. \u201cBut I think the feedback we did get is that more players wanted to love Returnal; they wanted to get further. So for us, it was about providing that ability. So it means we don&#8217;t dilute the challenge; there&#8217;s still a very challenging game there, but there is also the ability to kind of modify the challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">The upshot, according to Elliot, is that Saros may struggle to break even, but as a PS5 exclusive there&#8217;s more to consider. &#8220;Exclusives sell consoles, and then inertia from previous generations does the rest, and the real PlayStation money is made on third-party launches and legacy third-party live services,&#8221; Elliot said. &#8220;Plenty of core PlayStation players have picked up Saros, which is the underlying job an exclusive is meant to do.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-2021719738 video jsx-2008855984 aspect-ratio aspect-ratio-16-9\">\n<div class=\"badge jsx-1349606671 jsx-3647116352\"><span class=\"ign-icon icon-play jsx-2750866048 jsx-1044454891\" role=\"img\" aria-hidden=\"false\" data-cy=\"icon-play\" aria-label=\"Play\" style=\"background:currentColor\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">One of the question marks around Saros is whether it will eventually release on PC, as Returnal did. <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/tech-boss-of-developer-sony-is-shutting-down-thinks-playstation-has-pulled-back-from-pc-in-response-to-steam-machine\">Sony is reportedly pulling back from PC to focus on PS5 exclusives again<\/a>, and there&#8217;s no indication Saros will leave the console. While this may boost PS5, it does mean Saros will miss out on generating revenue via Steam. In late April, former PlayStation exec Shuhei Yoshida suggested that <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/former-playstation-exec-wonders-how-sony-will-maintain-investment-in-first-party-games-without-releasing-them-on-pc\">Sony will struggle to recoup the huge budgets invested in its first-party games without porting them to PC<\/a>. &#8220;Releasing games on PC after a couple of years must have helped recoup the investment of these big budget games and help[ed] the team and company to reinvest that money into their new games,&#8221; Yoshida said. &#8220;So, from a business standpoint, I think it made sense for me.<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">&#8220;If they were releasing new AAA games day one on other platforms, I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a good strategy for [a] platform holder like PlayStation. I\u2019m not seeing any proof of them changing their strategy this generation, but if they are changing its going to be interesting how they are able to maintain the investment on the big budget games on the first-party side going forward.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\">IGN&#8217;s <a class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ign.com\/articles\/saros-review\">Saros review<\/a> returned a 7\/10. We said: &#8220;Saros tries at an interesting and ambitious story it isn&#8217;t always able to effectively tell, but Housemarque has once again proved that its bullet-hell sensibilities mesh incredibly well with fluid and challenging action.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-cy=\"accent-divider\" class=\"jsx-3449795453 divider jsx-2786329600\"><\/div>\n<p data-cy=\"paragraph\" class=\"paragraph jsx-2269604527\"><em>Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world&#8217;s biggest gaming sites and publications. She&#8217;s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/bsky.app\/profile\/vixx.bsky.social\" class=\"link jsx-1337145738 jsx-3925284146 underlined\" data-cy=\"styled-link\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>BlueSky<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PlayStation 5 exclusive Saros has sold around 300,000 copies in its opening fortnight, generating over $22 million in revenue, according to analyst data. Analytics firm Alinea Analytics called the debut &#8220;slow but interesting,&#8221; albeit tagging it as a &#8220;niche game&#8221; that&#8217;s currently only playable on Sony&#8217;s console. It&#8217;s selling &#8220;a little slower&#8221; than Sony-owned studio [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,243],"class_list":["post-1933225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-ign-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1933225","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1933225"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1933225\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1933225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1933225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1933225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}