Can PlayStation’s Housemarque repeat the FromSoftware story?
Sony’s Housemarque studio is openly targeting FromSoftware’s long-term success, despite Saros underperforming against Returnal’s sales. The studio has tripled its staff to 120 and built a new VFX engine, signaling ambition to elevate its sci-fi shooter genre. Market expectations and scope adjustments remain key uncertainties.
What changed
New details on staff growth, VFX engine development, and explicit comparisons to FromSoftware’s trajectory have emerged since last report.
Live updates
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Housemarque Aims for FromSoftware-Level Growth as Saros Tech Expands
confidence 92%Sony’s Housemarque studio is openly targeting FromSoftware’s long-term success, despite Saros underperforming against Returnal’s sales. The studio has tripled its staff to 120 and built a new VFX engine, signaling ambition to elevate its sci-fi shooter genre. Market expectations and scope adjustments remain key uncertainties.
What's confirmed:
- Housemarque has expanded its workforce from 40–50 employees at *Nex Machina*’s 2017 release to 120 today, marking a tripling in recent years.
- The studio has developed a unified VFX framework for *Saros*, transitioning from its previous NGP system to a new engine called Graphite.
- Housemarque’s co-founder, Ilari Kuittinen, has stated the studio aims to replicate FromSoftware’s sustained success with its ‘bullet ballet’ genre, positioning *Saros* as a long-term franchise pillar.
- Despite *Saros*’s commercial performance falling short of *Returnal*’s sales, Housemarque maintains its ambition to grow as a first-party PlayStation studio.
Still unconfirmed:
- Housemarque’s next project may differ in scope from *Saros* or *Returnal*, though no official details have been confirmed.
- Market expectations could limit Housemarque’s ability to replicate FromSoftware’s organic, player-driven growth trajectory.
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Housemarque eyes FromSoftware’s growth but faces scale questions after Saros
confidence 92%Sony’s Housemarque studio, now a fully integrated PlayStation first-party, is openly aiming to replicate FromSoftware’s long-term success trajectory. While Saros underperformed against Returnal’s sales, the studio insists its ambition remains unchanged, though hints suggest its next project may differ in scope. Growth to 120 employees and a newly built VFX engine for Saros underscore its expanding capabilities, but market expectations weigh on its ability to match FromSoftware’s organic rise.
What's confirmed:
- Housemarque now operates as a PlayStation first-party studio after being acquired in 2021, having previously worked as a second-party for decades.
- The studio has grown to 120 employees under Sony’s ownership, reflecting its expanded role within PS Studios.
- Housemarque explicitly cites FromSoftware as a model for its long-term growth, framing its ambitions as gradual and organic.
- Saros’ slower sales compared to Returnal have not deterred Housemarque from pursuing similar long-term development goals.
- The studio developed a unified VFX engine called Graphite for Saros, evolving technology first used in Returnal to create dynamic environments.
- Housemarque has signaled its next PS5 game could be smaller in scale than Saros, citing new creative opportunities.
Still unconfirmed:
- Housemarque’s next project may prioritize smaller-scale experimentation over blockbuster ambitions, though no details have been confirmed.
- The studio’s growth trajectory could face challenges if Saros’ underperformance affects investor or executive confidence, though no official concerns have been raised.