Saros May Struggle To Recoup Its Budget, Despite Great Reviews - Analyst
Housemarque’s Saros launched in early May 2026 to critical acclaim and has emerged as a strong contender for Game of the Year. However, initial sales figures suggest the title may struggle to recoup its development budget despite receiving rave reviews.
According to sales estimates from analyst Rhys Elliott at Alinea Analytics, Saros has sold approximately 300,000 copies in its first two weeks on the market. While respectable, this falls short of Returnal, Housemarque’s previous game, raising concerns about the title’s commercial viability. The underperformance is particularly notable given that the PS5 now boasts an install base of approximately 93.7 million consoles, compared to around 8 million when Returnal launched several years earlier.
Saros marks the first major release from Housemarque since Sony Interactive Entertainment acquired the studio. The developer had previously maintained independence while primarily creating games for PlayStation platforms.
It’s important to note that these sales figures are analyst estimates rather than official data, and Alinea Analytics’ track record has come under scrutiny, with some predictions proving accurate while others have been questioned. The exact methodology remains unclear, so these figures should be treated as informed projections rather than definitive sales data.