Tag: Returnal
News Hades Dev Says Returnal Is One of His Favourite Games This Year
And Housemarque reciprocates
Hades is finally available on PlayStation 5 and PS4, and as you may have heard, it's a fantastic rogue-like action game. It's certainly one of the highest profile indie games in recent memory, and has been incredibly well received; it was even in contention for Game of the Year at 2020's Game Awards. PS5 owners have been...
Soapbox What Makes Returnal So Special
Liam found a rogue-like to love
Generally, I don't like the rogue-like genre. Just the idea of having to restart an entire game over again upon death sort of rubs me the wrong way. I want to be making progress at all times; having to replay sequences never entertains me. That need is probably why I so rarely replay games in general. A few classics...
News Returnal Update 1.4.1 Available on PS5 Today, Here Are the Patch Notes
More alien bugs eliminated
Returnal is in a much better spot now than it was at launch, with developer Housemarque pushing out numerous patches to get all the game's issues under control. It's a far more stable experience these days, but one or two problems do persist. Hopefully, patch 1.4.1, released today, will squash these remaining bugs. Over...
News Returnal PS5 Patch 1.4.0 Out Now, 5.6GB in Size
Big balance and quality of life improvements
Update: Housemarque promised the new Returnal patch would release today, 14th June, and it's kept true to its word. The update is available on the PlayStation 5 now, and weighs in at 5.6GB. A lot of the feedback we've read online has been extremely positive so far — there are a ton of tiny tweaks and...
News PS5 Architect Mark Cerny Adds Returnal's Platinum to His Collection of Prestigious Pots
A gaming god
PlayStation 5 architect Mark Cerny is not just a genius console designer: he’s also a better gamer than you. The industry veteran has made a habit of procuring some of the most challenging Platinum Trophies available, and he’s just added Housemarque’s uber-hard roguelite Returnal to his virtual cabinet. “My favourite moment:...
Reminder Returnal's Selene Costume Available Now for Sackboy: A Big Adventure as Free DLC
Crash lands today
Returnal and Sackboy: A Big Adventure are two completely different games. One's a frantic third person shooter with an endless death cycle, and the other's a light-hearted 3D platformer about collecting bubbles and bopping along to Uptown Funk. We'll let you work out which is which, but in any case, they're pretty far apart on the...
News Returnal Team Out to Prove It's More Than Just the 'Resogun Studio'
Wants to make "bigger types of experiences"
We think Finnish developer Housemarque has already proven it can create games on a big scale through Returnal, but it appears the team may not quite agree. Marketing director Mikael Haveri claims the studio wants to rid itself of the idea that it's just the "Resogun studio" by continuing to create bigger...
News Stylish Returnal Promo Brings the PS5 Game's Cycle to the Real World
It's to the right
Returnal is a game that concerns itself with cycles, trapping protagonist Selene in an endless loop in which she can't die. The intimidating world of Atropos shifts and changes between cycles, and players must go through dozens of runs in order to fight their way through the PlayStation 5 exclusive. We all know this already, but...
News Returnal Update 1.3.7 Arrives on PS5 Today, Here Are the Patch Notes
More common issues fixed
Update: This patch is available now, weighing in at just over 1GB. Original Story: Housemarque has revealed the latest patch for its fast-paced arcade shooter Returnal, which has been a little unstable since its launch. Some of the more egregious issues have been resolved, but the developer has been working to plug the...
News Sackboy: A Big Adventure DLC Brings Returnal's Selene to Craftworld on PS5
Give her a change of scenery
Update 21/5/21: As has been pointed out to us, this Selene costume for Sackboy: A Big Adventure costume has been confirmed to be free. Also, no platforms have been specified, so presumably it'll be available in the PS4 version of Sackboy too. We'll have to wait and see on that one, but hey, free stuff! Original Story:...
News Returnal's Save System Still Being Investigated, New Content in the Works
Housemarque still not sure on best approach to save issues
Returnal is one of the best PlayStation 5 games you can buy right now, but it has had one major criticism levelled at it: its save system – or lack thereof. Currently, the only way to retain your progress during a run is to put your console in Rest Mode, but this creates all kinds of...
Talking Point Returnal Story and Ending Explained - What Does It All Mean?
Let's get spoilery
Returnal has been out on PlayStation 5 now for a while, which means that a bunch of you have hopefully reached its conclusion by now. A big part of the game's appeal, aside from its slick bullet hell action, is its intriguing, mysterious story. Who exactly is Selene? Why has she ended up on the hostile planet Atropos? What's with...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Returnal?
The cycle repeats
Returnal has been out for just over a week now, and the PlayStation 5 exclusive has been met with a wave of positivity. Just before launch, most reviews painted the intense shooter as a near essential purchase on Sony's new system — but what review score would you give Returnal? That's what we're here to find out. We gave the...
News Returnal Patch 1.3.6 Available Now on PS5, Fixes Lots of Common Issues and Crashes
The cycle continues
Housemarque is being put through its paces, as its PlayStation 5 exclusive Returnal has been causing trouble with various bugs. A number of players have been hit with some pretty nasty problems, like doors not opening, the inability to pick up items, and game crashes. While those crashes might be a problem on Sony's side, it...
News Returnal Patch 1.3.4 Available Now on PS5, Fixes Nasty Save Errors
New update ready to rock
Update: Overnight, patch 1.3.4 for Returnal went live, which promises to fix the save-related issues the previous update introduced. So, just update your game to the latest version (the patch is roughly 1GB in size), and your progress will be a-okay — plus, you can enjoy the various bug fixes that 1.3.3 was intended to...
Random Dev Cheat Codes Discovered in Returnal Let You Spawn Weapons and Re-Roll Biomes
But a patch is coming
Here's a pretty fascinating story for you. Returnal, the excellent arcade shooter rogue-like from Housemarque, is generally resonating well among players, but there are some struggling with the difficulty and its perma-death structure. If you're in that camp, and wish there was a way to make things a little easier for yourself,...
Guide Returnal: How to Complete Biome Surveys
How to unlock Survey Trophies in Returnal
How do you do the Surveys in Returnal? How do you complete the biome surveys and unlock the survey Trophies? In Returnal, there are six Gold Trophies that you only unlock when you finish surveys of each of the game's areas. Trophies such as Past the Ruins, Ascending the Mountain, and Through the Forgotten...
Guide Returnal: Where to Find All Sunface Fragments
How to get all the Sunface Fragments in Returnal
Where are all the Sunface Fragments in Returnal? How do you find the Sunface Fragments? As part of our Returnal guide, we're going to tell you all about the Sunface Fragments, and what you need to do to get them. Returnal: Where to Find All Sunface Fragments: In Act 3 of Returnal (after you roll...
Guide Returnal: How to Break Yellow Barriers
How to open yellow force fields in Returnal
How do you break the yellow barriers in Returnal? What do you need to open and get through the yellow energy walls? As you play Returnal, you'll notice some yellow barriers that are blocking off optional rooms or concealing useful items. How do you get through these yellow walls? As part of our Returnal...
News Returnal Crashes May Be Sony's Problem, Other Bugs Being Investigated
Crash landing
While it’s certainly not affecting everyone, a number of Returnal players are experiencing crashes while playing the game. This is something Housemarque has acknowledged, although it’s suggested that the PlayStation 5 is the problem – and not necessarily the game. Writing on Discord, a spokesperson said: “This is an issue with...
News Housemarque Acknowledges Request for Mid-Run Saves in Returnal
Halted progress
Currently, you can’t save and quit in Returnal, meaning the only way to pause your progress mid-run is to put your PlayStation 5 in Rest Mode. Consequently, if you’re putting together a good attempt but run out of time – maybe you have a Netflix date or something – then you’re going to have to close the game and start over...
News Returnal Impresses with Particle Effects and Smooth Performance in Technical Breakdown
Digital Foundry puts it through its paces
Housemarque has always made games with oodles of style, focusing on eye-popping visual effects and sturdy performance. In this new video from Digital Foundry, the studio is clearly sticking to what it knows best with Returnal, pushing the PlayStation 5 with its custom Unreal Engine 4 tech. The technical...
News Housemarque Provides an Overview of Returnal in 30-Minute Gameplay Video
Developer deep dive
Returnal releases today exclusively on PlayStation 5, and we think it's a belter. The addictive arcade shooter seems to have made a big impression across the board, but if you need more convincing, perhaps this video will give you a better idea. In this new gameplay presentation, developer Housemarque discusses the game's basics...
News Returnal's Day One Patch Is 10GB, Improves Performance, Fixes Bugs, and More
Ship shape
Returnal is on the brink of release on PlayStation 5, and the good news is it's an excellent arcade shooter. Housemarque's latest is its biggest game by far, and it combines the studio's arcade expertise with a third person perspective and rogue-like elements to great effect. For our review, we played the game without the day one patch,...
Guide Returnal: All Trophies and How to Get the Platinum
How to get all the Trophies in Returnal
In this Returnal Trophy roadmap, we're going to reveal how to unlock the Platinum Trophy in this PS5 exclusive shooter. As part of our Returnal guide, we're going to outline all the Trophies in the game, complete with their descriptions and how to get each one. We've also included a Trophy roadmap, outlining...
Guide Returnal Guide: Tips, Tricks, and All You Need to Know
How to survive and thrive in Returnal on PS5
Returnal is a PS5 exclusive third-person shooter from Finnish developer Housemarque. It's a fast-paced, challenging run n' gunner with rogue-lite elements, and we love it, awarding it a 9/10 in our review. In this Returnal guide, we will be going over everything in the game. We'll explain how to earn
Guide Returnal: All Bosses and How to Beat Them
How to kill every boss in Returnal
How do you kill all the bosses in Returnal? As part of our Returnal guide, we're going to tell you how to beat every boss fight in the game. If you're looking for some tips and advice on how to defeat all the bosses, we've got all that lined up for you below. Of course, beating boss battles will earn you a few...
Guide Returnal: How to Get Into the House
How to unlock the door to the House
How do you get inside the House in Returnal on PS5? How do you unlock the door to the House? As part of our Returnal guide, we're going to tell you how to get into the mysterious House that shows up throughout the game. If you intend to get the Platinum Trophy for Returnal, you'll need to gain access to the House...
Guide Returnal: How to Unlock Daily Challenge Mode
How to unlock the Simulation mode in Returnal
How do you unlock the Daily Challenge mode in Returnal? How can you play the daily Simulation Mode? In Returnal, you can play a Daily Challenge in addition to the main campaign. But how do you gain access to it? As part of our Returnal guide, we're going to explain how you can unlock the Simulation Mode...
Guide Returnal: Do You Have to Fight the Bosses More Than Once?
Can you skip boss fights in Returnal?
Do bosses stay dead in Returnal on PS5? Can you skip past boss fights once you've done them? As part of our Returnal guide, we're going to answer these questions right here, so you know what you're getting yourself into. If you're looking for advice on fighting the bosses, see our guide — Returnal: All Bosses...
Guide Returnal: What Do You Lose When You Die?
What you keep and what you don't when you die in Returnal
What do you lose when you die in Returnal? Do you lose absolutely everything and start fresh? Are there permanent upgrades? As part of our Returnal guide, we're going to outline what exactly happens when you die in this game. Read on to learn what is kept and what is lost when a run is over...
Guide Returnal: How to Not Die
How to extend your runs in Returnal
How do you stay alive longer in Returnal? How can you keep your runs going for longer stretches? Returnal is inarguably a difficult game, and its structure means you will die frequently, and go at it again and again. While this is expected — it is a rogue-lite game after all — it can inevitably cause some...
Guide Returnal: How Long Does It Take to Beat?
How many hours long is Returnal?
How long does it take to beat Returnal on PS5? How much time will you need to finish Returnal? Housemarque's rogue-lite shooter may not look it, but the game is a surprisingly lengthy experience. As part of our Returnal guide, we're going to tell you roughly how long it'll take to reach the end of the game...
Guide Returnal: Can You Save and Quit?
Can you resume a run after quitting?
Can you save and quit in Returnal? Can you save a run part way through and come back to it? As part of our Returnal guide, we're going to answer your questions about preserving game progress, saving, and quitting. If you're looking for tips on how to stay alive in the game for longer, see our guide — Returnal:...
Guide Returnal: How Many Biomes Are There?
How many different levels are there in Returnal?
How many biomes are there in Returnal? How many different environments are there to discover? As part of our Returnal guide, we're going to tell you the number of different levels there are to explore, giving you their names and a brief description. Returnal: How Many Biomes Are There?: There are...
Guide Returnal: Can You Get Back to Earlier Levels?
How you can return to the first biomes in Returnal
Is there a way to get back to earlier levels in Returnal? How can you revisit the first few biomes? If you've been playing Returnal and have reached Act 2, you'll find yourself in an unusual situation — you have a new starting point. As part of our Returnal guide, we're going to explain what's...
News Housemarque Thanks Sony for Supporting the 'Very Risky' Returnal
"We are forever grateful"
There was a time when Housemarque’s future looked uncertain. Having designed some of PlayStation’s most memorable games, disappointing Nex Machina sales prompted the studio to declare #ArcadeIsDead. You may recall, the Finnish team turned its attention to Battle Royale title Stormdivers, but it was quietly pitching...
Review Returnal (PS5) - Housemarque's Deep, Dark Shooter Is a PS5 Must Have
Selene Die On
Returnal is a much, much bigger game than you think it is. For all the noise surrounding the game's price point, Housemarque has produced its largest, most ambitious project by a country mile. This isn't a small scale title with a premium cost; the studio has made something on a whole new level. There's an awful lot of game here, and...
News Returnal's Ready for Release with Intriguing PS5 Launch Trailer
Over and over
Here it is, then: the last Returnal trailer before launch. This one mixes mysterious cinematics with some breakneck gameplay clips – crikey do some of these enemies look awesome! Housemarque’s blockbuster PlayStation 5 exclusive will launch this week, and we’ve got a review incoming imminently. In the meantime, you can check out...
News Even Returnal's Fast Travel Animation Is Impressive
Hardly any load times either
It really feels like the conversation surrounding Returnal has changed drastically ever since media outlets, including our lovely selves, shared hands on impressions based on the game's first two biomes. What once was a lot of chatter about its price has now become a discussion about how good it looks as we near launch...
Poll Will You Be Buying Returnal?
Let's do the time warp again
With exactly one week to go until the arrival of the PlayStation 5's first big exclusive title since launch, it's time to answer the all-important question: will you be buying Returnal? To give you a better idea of what to expect from Housemarque's latest rogue-like experience, we recommend you first check out our Hands...
News Returnal PS5 Pre-Load Available Now, Weighs in at 56GB
Atropos awaits
If pre-release trailers and coverage have done enough to convince you to pre-order Returnal, you can get ahead of the game by pre-loading the PlayStation 5 exclusive right now. Of course, you must have pre-ordered on the PS Store to enable this functionality, but those who haven't yet still have the option to do so between now and the...
News Returnal Runs at 60 FPS in Dynamic 4K with Raytraced Lighting on PS5
A showpiece
Returnal is a stunner in motion, and a new PlayStation.com promotional piece attaches some specifications to the visual splendour. As we confirmed in our hands on, the release is running at 60 frames-per-second in dynamic 4K – but it’s also using the PlayStation 5’s raytracing technology to bump up the li
Hands On Why You Should Be Hyped for Returnal, the Next Great PS5 Exclusive
Helios abandoned
Returnal is easily the biggest game Housemarque has made to date. It's important to remember that the team behind this sci-fi shooter is relatively small, but the game is being positioned alongside other key PlayStation 5 software like Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon's Souls. In some ways, it's an unfair equivalence,...
News Returnal Trophy List Spawns Another Easy Platinum from Sony
Survey, progress, die
It has become very clear over the past few years that Sony wants its Trophy lists to be straightforward and achievable for the vast majority of players. When you even have some users who won't buy a game because the Platinum trinket is too tough to unlock, it's easy to understand why. And so after MLB The Show 21 revealed...
News Returnal's Latest Dev Diary Discusses Enemies and Bosses, Shows New Gameplay
Almost there
The latest (and probably last) episode of the HouseCast is here. This dev diary series has shone a light on Returnal, the upcoming sci-fi shooter from Finnish studio Housemarque. Each episode contains some insight from the team, as well as some snippets of fresh gameplay footage. The most recent is all about the enemies and bosses...
News New Returnal PS5 Gameplay Trailer Shows Off Some Creepy Enemies and Bosses
Tentacles everywhere
Update 2: It looks like Sony's found the right button to push at last. The new Returnal trailer is back, and we've embedded the YouTube video above for your viewing pleasure. What a kerfuffle! Update: Ah. It seems the video made it to the Internet a little earlier than planned, as it's just been pulled. We did suspect it was a...
News Returnal Gets New PS5 Gameplay Footage in Another Housemarque Dev Diary
The HouseCast returns
Sony's next major PlayStation 5 exclusive is right around the corner. We've known about Returnal since its unveiling last summer, and we're now just a few weeks away from the latest effort from Housemarque. We've seen a fair amount of the sci-fi shooter, but if you're desperate for more, watch the latest HouseCast dev diary,...
News The Latest Returnal Trailer Is One of Its Best Yet
Break the loop
We're less than one month away from the PlayStation 5 launch of Returnal now, which means the full marketing cycle is really starting to kick into gear. This latest trailer comes courtesy of the PlayStation Japan YouTube channel and it's all about breaking the loop. This is a rogue-lite experience at the very least, after all. We...
News Feast Your Eyes on New Footage from PS5's Returnal
Eternal Returnal
Returnal is one of those games that you just know is going to feel great – even if some of its other elements are up for debate. As part of the Future Games Show, developer Housemarque popped by to present its upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusive, and there are some new gameplay snippets to enjoy. While the Finnish outfit largely...
