Returnal receives update with support for PS5 Pro and ignites expectations for Saros

Returnal, released in 2021 by Housemarque, has just received a new patch focused on graphic improvements, especially aimed at the PlayStation 5 Pro. The update, released in April 2025, marks the fourth anniversary of the title and offers significant technical gains: up to 2.5 times more pixels compared to the original version, which could mean a jump to native 4K resolution, abandoning the previous upscaling used on the standard PS5.

Sony and Housemarque have not disclosed additional changes beyond the visual gain, indicating that the goal of the patch is to serve as an optimization dedicated to the new version of the console. The move follows the trend started in the PC version, released in 2023, which already showed notable advances in performance and graphic fidelity.

With intense gameplay and a roguelite structure, Returnal stood out for its oppressive sci-fi atmosphere and enigmatic narrative, centered on Selene, an astronaut trapped in a cycle of death and rebirth on a hostile alien planet. The game won the award for Best Game at the BAFTA Game Awards 2022, as well as Best Performance for actress Jane Perry.

Since then, the Finnish studio was acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment and officially became part of the PlayStation Studios family. In the State of Play of February 2025, Housemarque revealed its new project, Saros, starring Rahul Kohli. Set on another unstable planet full of threats, the title has already had support for PS5 Pro confirmed, suggesting that the Returnal patch may have served as technological preparation for this new release.

The technical reinforcement and longevity of Returnal reinforce Housemarque's commitment to consistent updates and aim to keep its fan base active as the studio approaches the release of Saros.