Saros gets Zenith: Housemarque adds bosses and tweaks in a free update

Housemarque has made another move with Saros, its spiritual successor to Returnal. The studio has just released Zenith, a major update that comes at no extra cost for anyone who already owns the game and which, according to Movistar eSports, introduces new boss encounters and a batch of additional tweaks.

Why does it matter? Because in an action roguelike like Saros, bosses are the final exam of every run and the point where a player's skill is truly put to the test. Adding new fights isn't just a bit of extra content: it changes routes, build decisions and, ultimately, the way the most dedicated part of the community approaches the game. And the fact that it's free is a clear sign that Housemarque wants to keep its game alive for the long haul.

What you need to know

• Zenith is the name of the new Saros update, and it's available now.
• It's free for players who own the game.
• It adds new boss encounters.
• It also includes new tweaks alongside the main content.
• The core information comes from Movistar eSports.

What changes and who it affects

The source doesn't specify how many bosses are being added or the exact scope of the tweaks, so it's best not to get ahead of what hasn't been confirmed yet. What is clear is the direction: more high-level combat content and adjustments that will likely affect how every run plays out. In a genre where every small change shifts the balance between weapons, upgrades and enemy patterns, any tweak deserves a careful read of the official patch notes.

The players most affected will undoubtedly be those who push the game to its limits: the ones chasing long streaks, personal bests or doing speedruns. A new boss means relearning patterns, re-evaluating which combinations work and rethinking routes that may already have been heavily optimised. For content creators, on the other hand, it's an obvious opportunity: guides, first impressions, no-hit attempts and build comparisons are formats that tend to perform very well in the days after an update like this.

The weight of Returnal's legacy

It's no coincidence that Saros is billed as Returnal's spiritual successor. Housemarque has earned a reputation for intense combat, its take on bullet hell and its obsession with precise controls. With Zenith, the studio seems to be doubling down on what it does best: putting players up against demanding challenges and letting skill make the difference.

Our take

Here at Underworld Lordz we see this as good news, and we'll say it plainly: a free update of this size is exactly what we expect from a game that wants to build a community. Too many titles split their player base with paid content; here everyone starts on equal footing, and that's healthy for any competitive scene, even an informal one.

That said, we do have one reservation. Tweaks are a double-edged sword. If they hit the most popular weapons or upgrades too hard, they could instantly invalidate weeks of practice and strategies the community has worked hard to refine. We're asking Housemarque for full transparency in the patch notes: anyone racing against the clock or their own personal bests needs to know exactly what has changed and why.

For content creators, our advice is simple: get in early, but don't rush. The first videos on the new bosses will draw a lot of traffic, but the guides that truly last are the ones made after fully understanding the patterns. Quality over speed, even if the algorithm pushes the other way.

What do you think?

Zenith is here, and it's time to test yourself against the new bosses. Do you think free updates like this are the best way to keep a competitive roguelike alive, or would you rather studios focus on polishing the balance before adding more content? Drop by the team chat or our Discord and let us know what you think.