2021 is proving to be an exciting year for the PlayStation 5, given the lineup of games releasing this year, such asRatchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Horizon Forbidden West, and many more. However, one game that is currently drawing the attention and excitement of players is Housemarque’sReturnal, a third-person shooter psychological horror, which isone of the most anticipated games to release on the PS5this year.
Although most ofReturnal’sstory and gameplay are still shrouded in mystery, Housemarque has revealed everything it can to entice players to pick up the upcoming game. For players interested in knowing what to expect from the upcoming game, here’s everything there is to know aboutReturnal.
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Returnal Release Date and Platforms
Returnalis developed by Housemarque and will be published by Sony Interactive Entertainment as a PS5 exclusive. It is worth noting that unlike most games on the PS5, such asMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales,Returnalis not a cross-gen game, which means that players should expect all the bells and whistles that one could expect from a pure PS5 title. The game was originally slated to release last March but wassubsequently delayed to its new release date of May 28, 2025. According to the game’s official page,Returnalbeing a PS5 exclusive allowed the developers to take advantage of everything the new console has to offer, such as haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and 3D audio, making it the perfect game to showcase what the PS5 has to offer.
What is Returnal About?
Returnalrevolves around the story of Selene, who crash-lands on the alien planet of Atropos that is believed to house an ancient civilization. Upon arriving at the planet, Selene discovers that she is stuck in a time loop that resets after every death. As soon as Selene is resurrected, she finds herself following the same pattern of journeying across foreign environments that keeps changing and evolvingwhile trying to survive extraterrestrial creatures.
Currently, this is the only thing Sony and Housmarque have shared aboutReturnal’sstory, and most of it is still shrouded in mystery. However, in a video released by PlayStation Access, it was revealed thatReturnalwould have roguelike elements. This means that while players will start over at the beginning every time they die, they’ll be able to keep some of their progress intact, which will include weapons and items.
Returnal Features, Gameplay, and Combat
The latest video released by PlayStation Access also touched upon what players should know aboutReturnal’soverall gameplay, features, and combat. It was revealed that the planet of Atropos is divided into several unique biomes. These biomes serve to split the world into level-like areas while also allowing players to explore a wide variety of areas. As far as combat goes, the video summed it up as a “translation ofclassic arcade shootersinto 3D, third-person framework.” Players should also note that the game is classified as psychological horror, so expect some psyche-shattering moments.
Lastly,Returnal’sgameplay and story are heavily intertwined. Gameplay elements such as exploration, combat, and collecting powerups are key components that will help playersdiscover and understand the story better, including the history of the alien planet, the ancient civilization that once resided there, and the truth about the time loop.
Returnalis set to release on July 24, 2025, exclusively for the PS5.
