Saros and Pragmata show that video-game-ass video games are back

The story

Capcom and Sony's new sci-fi shooters may or may not be the start of a trend, but they make an special pair

From the source

Saros sands down Returnal s challenging formula into a power fantasy Pragmata isn t a dad game, it s a warning 10 Saros beginner s tips to help you conquer Carcosa Housemarque says Saros is easier because no one could beat Returnal Valve didn t try to reinvent the wheel with the Steam Controller, but it did anyway Why 007 First Light completely upends the character of James Bond 7 movie roles Michael Jackson wanted to play (but thankfully didn’t) This D&D summer camp lets real-life actions shape the story The Walking Dead’s legacy is getting sliced into 160,000 pieces — literally The return of video-game-ass video games Graphic: Grant Walkup/Polygon | Source Images: Capcom, Housemarque/Sony Interactive Entertainment Sign in to your Polygon.com account Patch Notes is a weekly newsletter bri

I'm probably about to fall into a classic trap of culture journalism — misidentifying a random coincidence as a trend — but bear with me, because I really do think there's something to it. Honest!

This week sees the release of Saros , Housemarque's new PlayStation 5 exclusive. Like its predecessor Returnal , it's an action game defined by a roguelike-style run structure and by sinister horror vibes. In other words, it couldn't be more 2026 if it tried.

Who and what

Key names and topics in this story: Saros, Pragmata.

Where to follow next

• Read the full piece at www.polygon.com
• More from our Gaming coverage