Housemarque Suggests Its Next PS5 Game Will Be Smaller Than Saros

Housemarque, the acclaimed studio behind Returnal and the forthcoming Saros, has indicated that its next project for the PS5 may be a more compact experience. While the team is currently deep in development on Saros, creative director Gregory Louden has hinted that the studio is already thinking about what comes after, and it could be something smaller in scope.

“We have a lot of ideas floating around,” Louden explained. “There are interesting opportunities we’d like to look at, and some of them might be better suited to a smaller-scale production.” This suggests that Housemarque is not simply doubling down on blockbuster ambitions but is instead considering a more focused, tighter design that plays to the studio’s strengths.

The shift in thinking marks a potential departure from the sprawling, roguelike structure of Returnal and the upcoming Saros. For a developer known for its arcade-style roots in games like Resogun and Super Stardust, a smaller PS5 game could allow for more experimentation and faster iteration. Louden emphasized that this isn’t about scaling down ambition but about exploring ideas that don’t require a massive team or a multi-year development cycle.

“We’re always looking at what excites us creatively,” he said. “Sometimes the best ideas come from constraints, not just from bigger budgets.” This statement aligns with a broader industry trend where major studios occasionally release smaller, more experimental titles between their flagship releases, offering players a change of pace.

While Saros remains the immediate focus, Housemarque’s openness to a more compact project is a promising sign for fans who appreciate the developer’s signature tight gameplay loops and high-octane action. Whether this next title returns to the twin-stick shooter formula or explores something entirely new, the studio’s willingness to remain agile suggests that its creative future is anything but predictable.