PS5 Exclusive Saros Reportedly Selling Worse Than You'd Expect

"According to new estimates from Alinea Analytics, Sony's latest PlayStation 5 exclusive has only sold just over 300,000 copies in its first two weeks. According to the firm's internal data, that means it's tracking slightly behind Returnal, which launched in 2021. It estimates the game has brought in $22 million in revenue so far, with early buyers, including roughly 30 percent of sales coming during the pre-release period, representing hardcore PlayStation fans."

"Last month's PlayStation download charts also show Saros failing to make the top 10 with just one day on the market and three in the early access period. This is surprising for a couple of reasons. The first is that when Returnal launched, the PS5 wasn't even a year old yet, meaning the install base was less than 10 million. Five years later, it's nearly 100 million, and yet Saros' numbers are essentially flat."

"It's still tough as nails, but there are more conventional story beats and cinematic moments to pull players in, alongside permanent upgrades that help ease some of the difficulty ramp-up. That's born out in the data, which shows Saros has double the completion rate among its top players than Housemarque's last game had at this point in its post-launch lifecycle."

"Alinea Analytics' Rhys Elliott speculates that players were hungrier for new PS5 exclusives when Returnal launched, while Saros is facing stiff competition from the entire back catalog as well as recent hits like Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert, and Pragamata."

Saros has sold just over 300,000 copies in its first two weeks on PlayStation 5, generating about $22 million in revenue. Early sales include roughly 30% from the pre-release period, indicating strong interest from hardcore PlayStation fans. Download charts show the game failing to reach the top 10 after one day and only appearing briefly during early access. Sales are lower than expected given the much larger PS5 install base compared with Returnal’s launch period. The game is more polished and more approachable, with conventional story beats, cinematic moments, and permanent upgrades that reduce difficulty ramp-up. Completion rates among top players are higher than for Returnal at a similar point post-launch. Competition from both older PlayStation titles and recent releases may be limiting broader sales momentum.

Read at Kotaku