Thanks to a recent podcast dev diary by developer Housemarque, more footage of PlayStation 5's next big exclusive, Returnal, has emerged online. Returnal last basked in the spotlight during this year's The Game Awards a little over a week ago. It was there that Sony confirmed the sci-fi psychological horror title would hit stores shelves this coming March.
Housemarque is better known for developing arcade-centric adventures that emphasize gameplay above all else. Experiences like Dead Nation and PS4's Resogun particularly solidified the studio's placement as one of Sony's most notable second-party partners. But Returnal sees the Finnish company exploring avenues beyond its comfort zone. The team first unveiled its latest project over the summer during Sony's PlayStation 5 Showcase event. In the handful of months since then, new information has surfaced slowly. From what's been revealed thus far, Returnal seems as though it could count among the platform's more interesting exclusives.
Fortunately, fresh gameplay footage is now available to gawk at. Housemarque showcased new Returnal gameplay clips during Episode 2 of the HouseCast, a developer-focused podcast the team hosts on its YouTube channel. The gameplay is scattered throughout the 12-minute video in bits and pieces, allowing viewers to get a closer look at some of Returnal's creatures, as well as the interesting shooting and traversal mechanics. Plus, it's neat to see how the studio has enhanced its mastery over voxel particle effects since the Resogun days.
As a launch window title, Returnal is slated to arrive at a rather crucial time early in PS5's life cycle. It even occupies a comparable due date to the fourth Infamous game, Infamous: Second Son, which also landed in late March on the heels of PS4's November 2013 release. Whether or not Housemarque's new opus can similarly make a big splash remains to be seen, but all the right ingredients seem in place.
However, unfortunate as it is to say, there does exist one part of the equation that could prove critical to Returnal's potential success - the price tag. At launch, Housemarque's shooter will cost $70. Preorder details confirmed as much following its release date reveal a couple of weeks ago. Yet, the news didn't come as too much of a surprise, since Sony previously announced PlayStation Studios products would receive a price hike during the PlayStation 5 generation. Might the $10 increase make customers think twice about investing in original IP, especially if said property comes from a lesser known developer? That should become clearer in the months and years ahead.
Returnal launches PlayStation 5 on March 21, 2021.
Source: Housemarque Games
