Analyst Suggests Sony’s New PS5 Exclusive Saros Is Underperforming in Sales

I’m about 10 hours into Saros, and I’m really enjoying it. While I can see why some fans might miss the rougher, more niche aspects of Housemarque’s previous sci-fi shooter, Returnal, I believe Saros benefits from being a more polished and finely-tuned experience. So, why isn’t it selling as well as expected?

Recent estimates suggest that Sony’s latest PlayStation 5 exclusive has sold just over 300,000 copies in its first two weeks. This puts it slightly behind Returnal, which debuted in 2021. The game has generated around $22 million in revenue so far, with about 30 percent of sales occurring during the pre-release phase, indicating strong interest from dedicated PlayStation fans. Additionally, last month’s PlayStation download charts show Saros didn’t make the top 10, even with a day of full release and three days in early access.

This is surprising for a couple of reasons. First, when Returnal launched, the PS5 had been out for less than a year, with an install base of under 10 million. Fast forward five years, and that number is nearly 100 million, yet Saros’ sales figures are relatively flat. It’s evident from the marketing and my experience with Saros that Housemarque aimed to create a more accessible game this time around.

While it remains challenging, there are more conventional story elements and cinematic moments designed to engage players, along with permanent upgrades that help mitigate the difficulty curve. This is reflected in the data, which shows Saros has a completion rate among its top players that is double that of Housemarque’s previous title at the same point in its post-launch lifecycle.

Rhys Elliott from Alinea Analytics speculates that players were more eager for new PS5 exclusives when Returnal launched, while Saros is now competing with a vast library of older titles and recent hits like Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert, and Pragamata. This competition could explain the sales gap, but it’s also apparent that other recent Sony first-party games are encountering similar hurdles.

Despite having a dedicated fanbase, Bungie’s Marathon has faced its own challenges, with no sales or player numbers released even two months post-launch. And what about Ghost of Yotei? This anticipated fall 2025 title was exceptional, yet we lack updated sales data for this PS5 exclusive as well.

It sold 3.3 million copies in its first month and significantly contributed to Sony’s financials during the holiday season, but the company hasn’t provided updated figures in over six months. By this point in Ghost of Tsushima’s lifecycle, Sony had already confirmed 5 million sales. While this doesn’t necessarily indicate poor performance, it raises questions about how Sony plans to grow the player base for its first-party titles as console sales plateau and development costs continue to rise.

Moreover, unlike their predecessors, Ghost of Yotei and Saros reportedly won’t be making their way to PC anytime soon.