Saros, the high-rated action game from Housemarque, has received a major free update called the Saros: Zenith update, available now to all players. The update introduces a New Game+ mode, a boss rush mode, new gameplay modifiers, accessibility settings, and additional trophies across the board.
Saros: Zenith Update
The centerpiece of the Zenith update is Eclipse Layers, the game’s New Game+ mode that unlocks after completing Saros. Each Eclipse Layer presents a more intense version of the game with altered rules. Before starting, players must select a loadout of Carcosan Modifiers that meets a minimum threshold, with all choices drawn from 25 available Trial Modifiers. Certain modifier combinations can synergize to create more punishing conditions, adding a layer of strategic decision-making before each run.
Tied to Eclipse Layers is the Crown system – as players take on more Trial Modifiers and raise their Modifier Balance, the Crown worn by protagonist Arjun becomes larger and more elaborate, with his armor turning golden. The Crown also unlocks Visions, a new collectible in the form of murals and messages etched into stone by an ancient king. There are 12 Visions to discover across Carcosa, with higher Crown levels required to access additional story texts within them.
Overlord Rush is the other new mode, accessible via the Primary Unit in Passage. It places players in a combat simulation where they race to defeat the game’s powerful Overlords as quickly as possible, with an integrated online leaderboard for global and friend comparisons.
The mode is split into multiple Sets: the Incursion and Ascension Sets each contain three Overlords and can be completed in around 10 minutes, while the Totality Set lines up all eight Overlords from the main game in a single continuous gauntlet. Leaderboard results can be filtered by choice of Main Weapon, giving players a more targeted way to compete.
Expanded Modifiers & Accessibility Options
The Zenith update adds 10 new Protection Modifiers and 10 new Trial Modifiers to the existing Carcosan Modifier system: one notable new Protection is Corruption Melee Enhancement, which converts built-up Corruption into bonus melee damage, offering an alternative way to manage one of the game’s more punishing mechanics. On the Trial side, Hostile Regeneration forces larger enemies to recover from stun damage unless finished off with a melee strike, demanding more aggressive play.
For accessibility, Housemarque has introduced two new settings. Slow Game Speed allows players to reduce the overall pace of the game, giving more time to react to enemy attacks without removing the projectile density that defines the game’s visual style. Players can set how much the slowdown reduces speed and choose whether it activates automatically in combat or only when toggled manually.
Auto-fire is the second new accessibility addition. When enabled, the weapon fires automatically while aiming at a hostile, reducing the input demand on players who may find sustained button holds difficult, though manual reloading with a well-timed button press is still required. The update also introduces Motion Sensor Aiming functionality, which works alongside the existing button remapping options to give players further control over how the game handles.
Pokdepinion: I can see Slow Game Speed used as an alternative “easy mode” for some.
