Fans think a ‘Returnal’ follow-up will be announced later this week

29 April, 2024

Returnal

Housemarque Studios has set social media ablaze with a mysterious teaser, with many fans speculating that a Returnal sequel is due to be announced in the coming days.

Returnal was originally released in 2021 for the PlayStation 5, while a PC version was shared in 2023. Housemarque Studios’ roguelike third-person shooter quickly became a beloved, critically acclaimed title and now fans are convinced a follow-up is due to be unveiled.

Earlier today (April 29) Housemarque Studios shared a black and white teaser image of broken glass and a pair of eyes alongside the word “tomorrow”, with many assuming a proper announcement is due on Tuesday, April 30.

While many fans are simply embracing the unknown, a number are speculating that the image hints at a follow-up to Returnal. “Returnal’s release date: April 30, 2021. Tomorrow: April 30, 2024,” wrote one fan, with another adding: “Re-Returnal!?”.

A third tried to keep expectations low by suggesting the studio are only teasing a documentary, but another claimed they’d “know those eyes anywhere” and shared a gif of Returnal protagonist Selene Vassos.

However, Housemarque Studios has previously said it is working on a new IP rather than a sequel. In 2022, CEO and co-founder Ilari Kuittinen claimed the new project was still in the concept stage while senior narrative designer Eevi Korhonen said Housemarque’s new game would incorporate scrapped Returnal ideas. “Returnal was so ambitious. We dreamt super big, but we still had to leave so much on the cutting room floor. All of these ideas and narrative systems. [We’re] super excited to pick up those pieces and see how those fit our new IP story,” she added.

In a five-star review of Returnal, NME wrote: “After rumours of PlayStation abandoning experimental games in favour of safe AAA blockbusters, this wonderfully weird release sticks out less like a sore thumb and more like a defiant middle finger. Part old-school arcade shoot ’em up, part Hideo Kojima-esque narrative opus, Returnal is a bizarre, ambitious and utterly enthralling ride. While its brutally unforgiving nature means Returnal might not make the roguelike truly mainstream, it’s still an utterly alluring and essential gaming experience.”

In other news, medieval strategy game Manor Lords is already looking for advice from the fanbase over the future of its “overpowered” trade mechanic following a successful first weekend in Early Access.

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