What Happened

Housemarque has officially launched Saros as a PlayStation 5 exclusive, delivering the studio’s most ambitious project since 2021’s critically adored Returnal. The game keeps Housemarque’s signature DNA — twitchy bullet-dodging, psychedelic visuals, and a soundtrack that feels like it was engineered to raise your heart rate — but wraps it in a darker, more cinematic package. Players take control of a warrior navigating a hostile world built around tight combat loops, brutal enemy encounters, and procedurally assembled runs that punish patience almost as much as they punish panic. Where Returnal leaned into existential horror and isolation, Saros trades that tone for something closer to an operatic action thriller. Sony is clearly betting big on the release, slotting Saros directly into its first-party PlayStation showcase and positioning it as the headline PS5 exclusive of the spring window. Early reception suggests the bet is paying off: reviewers have singled out its responsive gunplay, stunning particle work, and confident pacing as reasons Saros may be Housemarque’s best work yet.

Why It Matters for the Industry

Saros lands at a strange moment for AAA publishing. Big-budget single-player exclusives have grown rarer as publishers chase live-service revenue, and the few that do ship are routinely described as bloated or safe. Housemarque’s pitch is almost the opposite: a focused, mechanically rich, roughly fifteen-hour campaign that treats its audience like adults. For Sony, Saros is proof that the first-party strategy still has room for mid-budget auteur projects alongside the 200-hour tentpoles. For the wider business, it’s a reminder that disciplined creative risk still beats chasing trends. Housemarque itself is worth watching — since Sony acquired the studio in 2021, it has moved from niche arcade darling to one of PlayStation’s most reliable creative engines, and Saros cements that transformation. Expect the game to feature heavily in year-end awards conversations and to drive a measurable lift in PS5 hardware attach rate among players who bought the console for exactly this kind of release.

The Bigger Picture

Zoom out and Saros is a data point in a broader story: the quiet resurgence of tightly built, mechanics-first games in a market obsessed with scale. The roguelike genre, once a niche PC curiosity, now drives some of the most sophisticated design on consoles, and Saros is the latest argument that the format can sustain premium AAA production values without sacrificing what made it special. Entrepreneurs and studio leaders watching from the outside should take notes — Housemarque built a moat not by outspending rivals, but by compounding a clear design identity across multiple releases. That’s how a studio becomes a brand, and how a brand becomes a hedge against the whims of a volatile industry. Saros is the kind of release that will shape how Sony approaches first-party risk for the next three to five years.

Takeaway

Saros is a statement release. It’s confident, it’s brutal, and it’s exactly the kind of exclusive that justifies keeping a PS5 on your shelf. If Returnal made you a Housemarque believer, Saros will make you a disciple.

Original reporting via Game Rant.

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Climbing Has Never Felt This Real — Or This Terrifying

What sets Cairn apart from every other adventure game on the market is its revolutionary approach to movement. Forget button prompts and automated climbing animations — in Cairn, you control each of your character’s limbs independently. Every handhold is a decision. Every shift in weight is a calculated risk. The result is a climbing experience so visceral that real-life climbers have flooded Steam reviews praising its authenticity. You’ll feel the strain in your virtual muscles, the precariousness of a bad foot placement, and the sheer exhilaration of reaching a ledge you weren’t sure you could make. The cel-shaded visual style gives the mountain a storybook quality that contrasts beautifully with the life-or-death tension of each ascent.

A Genre-Defining Achievement

Cairn sits at the intersection of survival games and puzzle-platformers, but it doesn’t quite belong to either category. The Game Bakers have created something genuinely new — a game where the environment itself is both the puzzle and the threat. Route-finding up the mountain requires genuine spatial reasoning and risk assessment, and the game rewards careful observation over brute-force attempts. With posture, effort, and balance all factoring into every move, the climbing system has a depth that will take dozens of hours to fully master. It’s the kind of game that makes you rethink what interactive entertainment can be.

A Commercial Hit That Signals a Shift

Beyond its critical reception, Cairn’s commercial success tells a bigger story about the gaming market in 2026. In an industry increasingly dominated by massive open-world games and live-service titles, a focused, single-player experience about climbing a mountain has outsold expectations by a wide margin. The Game Bakers have proven that innovation and tight design can still cut through the noise, and the game’s success will likely inspire a wave of imitators. For now, Cairn stands alone at the summit — and the view from up there is spectacular.

Conclusion

Cairn is a masterclass in focused game design that proves you don’t need a massive budget or an open world to create something extraordinary. If you own a PS5 or PC, this is essential gaming in 2026. Just be warned: your palms will sweat.

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The best part about Mortal Combat 1

Without a doubt, the strongest aspect of MK1 is the storyline. With this installment, it undergoes a dramatic reset, with Liu Kang assuming the mantle of Earthrealm’s guardian and guiding its champions into a seemingly less perilous Mortal Kombat tournament. However, the tranquility is short-lived as mysterious and malevolent forces disrupt the peace, plunging the realm into chaos once more. Liu Kang’s carefully cultivated utopia is threatened as these usurpers seek to transform it into a battleground soaked in blood and gore.

Returning to the roots of the franchise, Mortal Kombat 1 embraces the classic “kung-fu flick” aesthetics, shedding the modern military themes of its predecessors. Instead, the narrative weaves a thrilling tale of ninjas, sorcery, and treachery, punctuated by deadly alliances and unexpected twists. The story campaign unfolds with stellar cinematography, delivering authentic moments of drama and comedy. Also, it included a long-awaited return of characters such as Sindel, Reptile, Mileena, and Raiden.

Visuals and animation

Mortal Kombat 1 boasts stunning visuals that capture the essence of its dark and fantastical world. The game’s graphics are undeniably impressive, showcasing detailed character designs and richly rendered environments. Each fighter is meticulously crafted with distinct features, from the imposing stature of Goro to the agile movements of Liu Kang. Vibrant colors and dynamic lighting effects further enhance the visual spectacle, immersing players in the intense combat experience.

On the other hand, Mortal Kombat 1, as a recent release, features animations that we can definitely call lacking, to say the least, compared to its competition. The character movements appear stiff and unnatural, with animations that sometimes feel rigid and dated. Jumping animations, in particular, seem clunky and lacking in fluidity.

NetherRealm Studios’ strongest point

Mortal Kombat 1’s stage design stands as a testament to the game’s captivating atmosphere and immersive world-building. NetherRealm Studios meticulously crafted each arena to reflect the diverse settings of the Mortal Kombat universe, from ancient temples shrouded in mystery to eerie wastelands teeming with danger. The attention to detail is evident in every corner, with background elements that breathe life into the environment and enhance the sense of immersion. Whether it’s the haunting silhouette of Shang Tsung’s throne room or the perilous cliffs of the Pit, every stage serves as a dynamic backdrop to the intense battles that unfold within. The stage design not only adds visual depth but also contributes to the storytelling, offering glimpses into the lore and mythology of the Mortal Kombat world.

Soundtrack of Mortal Kombat 1

The soundtrack of Mortal Kombat 1 serves as a powerful nostalgia-inducing element, transporting players back to the golden era of arcade gaming. Composed by Dan Forden, the iconic tunes are instantly recognizable, evoking memories of intense battles and adrenaline-fueled victories.

And of course, the gameplay and fighting

Mortal Kombat 1 delivers a familiar fighting experience that reminds us of the 90’s with its’ trademark 5-button fighter mechanic. However, some frustrations arise, such as the lack of player position resets, which can disrupt the flow of combat. Despite these setbacks, the introduction of the Kameo mechanic brings a notable evolution to the gameplay, reminiscent of the classic Kings of Fighters Striker system. While Kameo combatants add variety, they often feel like empty avatars, lacking the depth and personality of the main roster. Nevertheless, as this mechanic evolves over time, it holds promise for making a significant impact on the competitive scene.

The introduction of the new invasion mode and the implementation of the battle-pass style system known as “Mastery” represent attempts to provide players with additional content and rewards. The invasion mode promises dynamic challenges and seasonal updates. It offers players opportunities to engage in fresh experiences and earn rewards for their favorite fighters. However, some players find this mode lacking compared to the beloved MK Deception. It has a feeling that it fails to fully capture the excitement and depth of previous iterations. Despite its potential, the invasion mode may need further refinement to fully satisfy the expectations of fans.

Final thoughts

Overall, Mortal Kombat 1 was neither a hit or a miss. It does have excellent parts like the storyline, the soundtrack, the visuals and stage design. However, in parts where it doesn’t excel, it really messes up. The training, tutorial and online parts feel not finished. Same thing with the Invasion mode and Kameo mechanic. Although, I cannot beat them up about it since it is freshly added and will need some time to perfect. All in all, those who have loved previous installments will probably enjoy this one. Despite the fact that some parts are looking increasingly dated. In my opinion, it is not worth the full-priced fighter tag that it has.

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Stray – Main Premise

Stray will take you on a post-apocalyptic journey, an adventure where one moment you are playing with your cat family, and sooner than you know it, you will be in a dark street whose gloom is only broken by the occasional neon advertisement. Alone and lost in that unfamiliar environment, you try to find your way to your family.

The gameplay

Our nameless hero is a very ordinary cat, but that’s what makes him a very interesting choice for the protagonist. You don’t have any special abilities other than running, jumping, and meowing. However, the meowing ability is really interesting. It has its own dedicated button and when you press it – the environment reacts to your meow. Sometimes it’s just a casual glance from a harmless passerby, while in certain situations the meow results in alarming all possible enemies around you.

Jumping is a bit clumsily because you can only jump to a certain place and that is when the jump button appears on the screen. So, you can’t really jump at whatever you want, even when it seems you should be able to. That being said, the struggle with camera alignment during jumps can be a little irritating, especially when you’re running away from enemies. Fortunately, the controls can be completely customized

Another problem with the jump is the animation. Sometimes it won’t seem as fluid as it should be. That is quite contradictory considering how well the entire game feels and looks.

Things that made Stray feel special

It is no secret that people love Stray and that is for a good reason! The game has added a lot of interesting details that make the game feel different. For example, you can sharpen your claws on carpets, walls, or doors! If you’re feeling a little more naughty you’ll be delighted to know that you can push and knock down almost anything in your path. As with any real cat, sleep is an integral part of life and Stray offers an achievement if you sleep enough during your gameplay!

Characters in the game

Stray is full of distinctive characters, from those more important to the main story to those completely secondary. The characters are robots, but they think, dress, speak and act like humans. Therefore, you will be able to find them slacking off at work due to a hangover, drinking in a nightclub, or knitting sweaters for other robots. You can expect good dialogue and wacky jokes, from those related to quests to those that you might not notice if you don’t explore the environment well.

You’re probably wondering how can an ordinary cat communicates with robots. This is where our protagonist’s sidekick, a tiny drone named B-12, enters the scene. While not hiding in the mitten on the cat’s back, B-12 will translate what other characters are saying, illuminate dark areas, or serve as a backpack. B-12 stands side by side with our cat and is almost as important in this story. One would not succeed without the other, but together they become something more than the heroes of this story.

The hidden story of Stray

In addition to the main premise, which is the return of a cat to its family, Stray also tells the story of the disappearance of humanity through the collection of memory fragments in the environment itself.

In the open areas of the city, you can explore, collect certain things, talk to other characters, etc. There, the emphasis is on vertical movement. Linear areas where you solve not-so-difficult puzzles or run away from enemies are more action-focused than casual sightseeing.

The graphics

As for the appearance itself, Stray looks wonderful. The level of detail that gives this world a note of uniqueness and charisma is visible at almost every step. The stunning design of narrow dark alleys and the colorful neon lights that flow through the smog are just some of the things that make Stray recognizable and special. The attention paid to the visual and character details of the characters is noticeable everywhere you turn.

Closing thoughts

This little kitty should entertain you for about 6 to 10 hours, it all depends on how thoroughly you dedicate yourself to exploring the world around you and how interested you are in collecting various things. This is a relatively short game, which in this case is a good thing: the developers didn’t draw out the story unnecessarily, nor cluttered it with boring or tedious content.

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Plot

This game has you play as a man called Akito who gets possessed by a spirit detective KK. The overall premise of the game is pretty simple. Your goal is to find the criminal who kidnapped your sister. Sadly, the story is very lineral and very short. It’s set in a small open world with side missions. The map is artificially blockaded by fog which you push further away throughout the game.

Even though the entire gameplay is usually around 15 hours, the story is still decent. It’s mostly told through phone calls, voiceovers, and cut scenes. However, those cut scenes can sometimes be too much, with the game interrupting you every five minutes.

Characters in Ghostwire: Tokyo

With the small number of characters that Ghostwire: Tokyo has, it’s expected of the developers to try and make them memorable. But, that is not the case. Due to the shortness of the overall story, the characters don’t have enough time to develop. Additionally, after just a couple of hours of the game, all of their choices become painfully predictable.

Also, a one-dimensional villain certainly doesn’t help Ghostwire: Tokyo to stand out.

Side missions or a side issue?

Side missions in Ghostwire: Tokyo, much like the characters, are incredibly dull.

Most of the time it’s a small task given to you by ghosts. This typically means a fast fight or some sort of search mission where you are supposed to use your detective vision. For a full-priced open-world game, everyone expected more from the side quests.

Exclusiveness and exclusive features

Ghostwire: Tokyo was released as a one-year timed exclusive for Windows and Playstation 5. We must say playing it on Playstation might be the better option because it has two unique features. Firstly, the voice acting in the game is done exceptionally well. With that said, the game plays the voice through your tv, but the treble comes from the controller. Another unique feature is the wiring mechanic inside the videogame. Once you have dealt enough damage to your enemies, you can wire them in order to gain some HP back. For that, the player uses the shoulder button and it feels as if you’re truly ripping their souls apart due to the resistance of the controller.

Combat inside Ghostwire: Tokyo

Different elements, explosions, and spells are all of the pieces that could make engaging and unique combat inside a videogame. However, that is not the case. There aren’t any combos and the whole fighting process just doesn’t flow well. The player can only cast individual spells and that’s pretty much it. There aren’t any melee combinations like sliding or dodging. The only exception to this is the wiring.

Graphics

The graphics and the overall artistic style of this game are amazing. The scenery and character design are one of the best ones. Even though the spells aren’t as functional as they can be, they all look amazing and feel as if they’re really powerful. Well, all of them except water.

Conclusion

A lot of us were excited about this game. A videogame featuring a mystery, plus it’s based in Japan… It had a lot of potential. Sadly, Ghostwire: Tokyo is just a complete disappointment.

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The past of Playstation and Xbox

For many years Sony pretty much held the title of the “best” console following the launch of the first Playstation consoles and the subsequent update. However, when Microsoft introduced the first iteration of the Xbox a year after Sony launched the PlayStation 2, the world of console gaming would never be the same again.

Since then, it has been an endless game of one-upmanship between the two contenders. This is the case even though Sony seems to win consistently when looking solely at the market share. That said, the debate is always heated and consumers will always pit the two against each other. Because people are competitive by nature and we always want to be sure that we are getting the best for our money.

So when it comes to comparing consoles or any other competing products for that matter, it invariably leads to a comparison of their inner workings. The same goes for the Sony PS5 and the Xbox Series X.

PS5 v Xbox Series X, the titans go head to head

Looking at the technology that runs the PS5 and Xbox X, both competitors came ready to bruise and are quite evenly matched. Both companies chose to stay with chipmaker AMD on their latest offerings.

The PS5

The PS5 uses a third-generation variant of AMD’s Ryzen CPU, an 8 core chip that has been tailored to Sony’s exact desires.

The story is very much the same when it comes to the GPU. It is a tailored version of the Radeon Navi which supports ray-tracing and 3D audio simulation. When coupled with the PS5’s 16GB of GDDR6 RAM, players have up to 10.28 teraFLOPs at their disposal.

As for storage space, the PS5 ships with an 825 GB SSD (Solid State Drive) that runs at 5.5GB per second, which makes for some ultra-fast loading times.

Xbox Series X

Much like the competition, Microsoft’s work with partnership with AMD was an endeavor to customize components to suit the latest version of Xbox.

The Xbox also features an 8 core CPU, however, this version clocks higher at 3.8GHz – a tad higher than the Sony PS5’s 3.5GHz.

The GPU that Microsoft runs in the latest Xbox also leaves the PS5 wanting. More specifically Xbox Series X buyers have up to 12 teraFLOPs hidden “under the hood” that are paired with an exact match of 16GB GDDR6 RAM.

To top it off, the Xbox SX comes standard with an impressive 1TB SSD That runs at 2.4GB per second. If that is not enough for you, all you need to do is get your hands on an Xbox Series X Storage Expansion Card to get yourself another 1TB of storage.

Tallying up the score of PS5 vs Xbox X

When looking at the figures, the Xbox Series X has a clear hardware advantage over the Playstation 5. However, a closer inspection might reveal a few more important facts.

For one, the Xbox SX’s CPU figures only reach that high when the simultaneous multithreading feature is active, the gap between the two is otherwise a marginal one.

The GPU differences are another point worth paying a little extra attention to. Though Xbox Series X owners can boast about the higher teraFLOP figures, they might not really matter all that much beyond the platform’s exclusive titles like Gears of War.

That said, the asking price for the two competitors is similar – both with an MSRP of $500. So the question of which of the two is “better” is a very personal one, most probably determined by brand loyalty and which exclusive games one cannot go without playing.

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Sony’s beta program was launched in June and comes in as the company’s equivalent to the Xbox Insider program, which has been available for a number of years and gives PS5 owners early access to firmware updates for the purpose of testing and feedback.

For those selected few, this means that they will be “among the first to put new features to the test and provide essential feedback that will help guide [Sony’s] development.” As per Sony PlayStation blog post.

How to get started with the PS5 Beta Testing program

The exclusivity of it all is probably one of the biggest draws right? Whatever the case, there are a number of prerequisite standards that your PlayStation Network account needs to meet before you can even dream to start your journey to PS5 beta testing.

Besides actually owning the relevant console, interested parties need to be over 18 years. The second potential problem is that that program is limited to a select few countries. These are Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States – being anywhere else in the world means you’re out of luck.

Once you have all these in order, the first thing you need to do is navigate to the PS5 beta program’s official website, sign in and click register now. From there you’ll go through the usual of reading the terms of service before clicking on the “I Agree” option and submitting your application to the PS5 beta program.

Sign-up is fairly simple. However, one should always keep in mind that participants in the beta program are selected and a submitted application does not guarantee that you’ll get the email with further details on how to get started. This is a roll of the dice so to speak.

What happens if you get selected?

Should you get the lucky call, you’ll have the opportunity to try out new software features that Sony intends to implement – like the possibility of testing out SSD expansion, which saw a lot of hype in recent months.

After testing out the differences you might feel when you arrange your list of trophies vertically, your most important task would be giving Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) the feedback they need in the exact format as specified by them.

Theoretically, these untested features shouldn’t tamper with your gaming experience in any way and if they do, your job will be to report it to SIE. Beyond the bragging rights that come with exclusivity, the bigger benefit of beta testing is a very personal one. The feeling of knowing that you in some way helped to steer the direction of something like the PS5 is priceless to some.

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Firstly, the PS5 brings in a whole host of new technologies, while the PSVR – which it thankfully is compatible with – has really done its fair share of ageing, especially when pitted against rivals like the Oculus Quest 2.

Secondly, the Dualshock4 controller will work specifically on PS 4 supported games, and only the DualSense controls will be usable on PS5 games.

This backwards compatibility issue – the need to have a PS4 controller at hand to play last gen games – represents an added cost on those who might have sold their PS4 consoles, or simply never owned one. However, the added spend on the buyers side does not come as a surprise. The Story of previous PlayStation releases went a similar way – the DualShock 2 was not compatible with the PS3, with the narrative remaining unchanged for the release of the PS4.

All Eyes On VR

Another issue is VR, a budding gamer looking to enjoy their PSVR experience via the technologically superior PS needs more than just a headset and standard console. In this instance, one needs to be prepared to purchase the whole enchilada. That’s the PS Camera as well as the PS Camera adapter for PS5. Furthermore, many instances may require you to get your hands on a DualShock 4 controller, a pair of PS Move controllers, and possibly even the PS Aim controller.

In the meantime, PS5 owners will have to get around those sorts of hurdles to take advantage of the current PSVR – yes, there are whispers of a PSVR 2 going around the rumour mill.

However, not all prospects of the DualSense controller’s use in virtual reality gaming are bleak. There happens to be a hidden talent that the DualSense controller comes with – despite the DualSense’s lack of a light bar (used as a part of many game’s motion tracking mechanisms), it can still be used for titles that don’t employ controller tracking.

These are games like DirtRally, SkyrimVR (in gamepad mode as opposed to PS Move mode), and Resident Evil 7 VR – all of which utilise the camera for head tracking instead of controller tracking.

This one feature could go some way in relieving the frustration – for those who don’t have DualShock 4 – that may come from those titles that require the older controller. At least you’ll be able to play some of the titles in your collection.

Closing Notes

For the time being, this is what PlayStation 5 owners looking to get in on the virtual reality craze will have to deal with. This should only worsen with time as new release titles start to leave old technology behind, especially after Sony releases the much anticipated update to their PSVR platform.

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