PlayStation CEO Hermen Hulst's decision to keep single-player titles strictly on consoles is a hard blow for the PC community, especially the tech enthusiasts.
The tech crowd on Reddit is particularly disappointed by the lack of a PC port for "Saros." The game is considered a current benchmark for the PS5 architecture, which is why the absence of a PC version artificially limits the title's visual potential.
A technological beacon without high-end hardware
In the technical subreddits "Saros" is praised above all for its uncompromising exploitation of modern hardware features. The game demonstrates what is possible through optimized streaming processes directly via the SSD architecture – an aspect that PC enthusiasts would have loved to push to the limit on extremely fast NVMe drives with DirectStorage.
The combination of complex particle efficiency and a flawless HDR implementation, which was further calibrated to the maximum luminance of the displays with the latest patch 01.004.003, makes the game an optical benchmark.
PC gamers are missing out on a showcase for modern upscaling and ray tracing technologies. The immersive atmosphere of areas like "Yellow Shore" or the "Cathedral" could have set new standards on high-end graphics cards with native 4K resolution and uncapped frame rates. Instead, the visual splendor remains confined to the PS5's hardware limitations. This is frustrating the community.
"Returnal" was the first game I played when I got myself an ultrawide 165Hz OLED monitor. I also have a great pair of open-back headphones, and the audiovisual experience of this game is simply stunning. I have a PlayStation, so I can still play "Saros," but man, compared to that, the technical execution is really disappointing.
The inaccessible evolution of gameplay
Beyond the graphics, the loss also affects the game design. Housemarque further developed the fast, precise gameplay mechanics from "Returnal" in "Saros," which would have unleashed a completely new dynamic on PC thanks to mouse and keyboard controls. The community misses out on a challenging, mechanically deep action game that would have been ideally suited for high-refresh-rate monitors.
The new and Sony's strict platform policy It cuts off a player base with purchasing power and a keen interest in technology, who would have been willing to pay full price for this quality.
This means "Saros" remains an exclusive privilege for console owners, while PC gamers are left out. The title becomes an unattainable benchmark. Whether the actual sales figures will ultimately be so disastrous that Sony has to abandon its own strategy once again, making a PC port the logical next step, remains to be seen. As is so often the case, the final word has not yet been spoken.
Who cares 🤷♂️ There are plenty of games on PC! A few PlayStation games don't really matter.
Saros is simply amazing! 👌
Now you're exaggerating. The game doesn't look that amazing, and it does have its flaws. For example, if you're standing in a corner and rotate the camera, you can sometimes see the inside of the characters, like their teeth or eyeballs. Generally, the animation in the in-game cutscenes isn't up to AAA standards. The CGI cutscenes only run at 30fps. As for the art style, it looks good and varied. But for me, it's not a AAA game that deserves €80; it has quite a few weaknesses.