Saros Free Zenith Update Adds New Game Plus, Boss Rush and Accessibility Options

Housemarque has released the free Zenith update for Saros, introducing New Game Plus, a Boss Rush mode and expanded difficulty customization. The update launched on October 19, 2026, and is available to all existing owners of the PlayStation 5 exclusive at no additional cost.

The update is designed to give experienced players more reasons to return to Carcosa while making the third-person shooter's demanding combat more accessible. It introduces two replayable modes, 20 new gameplay modifiers, additional collectibles and several control options.

The new Eclipse Layers mode serves as Saros' New Game Plus experience, allowing players who have completed the campaign to return to Carcosa with increasingly difficult rules.

After finishing the game, players can unlock additional nodes in the Armor Matrix at Passage. These provide access to new Eclipse Layers, where each run requires a minimum combination of Carcosan Modifiers.

Higher layers demand more Trial Modifiers, but players can decide which challenges to activate. This gives them control over how they approach each run rather than forcing everyone to face the same restrictions. Zenith expands the modifier system with 10 new Protections and 10 Trials. Protections make certain encounters easier, while Trials introduce additional challenges.

One new Trial, Hostile Regeneration, allows larger enemies to recover after being stunned. Players must finish them with a melee attack before they regenerate. Another modifier, Corruption Melee Enhancement, lets players convert accumulated Corruption into additional melee damage.

Eclipse Layers also introduces visual rewards for taking on more difficult challenges. Starting from the second layer, protagonist Arjun gains a crown and glowing golden armor. The crown becomes more elaborate as players increase their modifier difficulty.

The crown also plays a role in discovering 12 new collectibles called Visions. These contain additional story details about Carcosa, with some information becoming visible only after reaching higher crown levels.

Zenith's other major addition is Overlord Rush, a Boss Rush mode that lets players fight powerful enemies from the main campaign in timed challenges. Accessible through the Primary Unit in Passage, the mode features three different sets of encounters.

Incursion and Ascension each contain three Overlords, offering shorter challenges that Housemarque says can be completed in approximately 10 minutes. The final set, Totality, places all eight Overlords into one continuous gauntlet.

Players can compete for faster completion times through online leaderboards, comparing their results with friends and other players worldwide. Leaderboard results can also be filtered by Main Weapon, allowing players to compete using their preferred equipment.

An internet connection and PlayStation account are required for the online leaderboard features.

Alongside the new challenges, Housemarque has introduced several settings designed to help players manage the game's fast-paced combat.

Slow Game Speed allows players to reduce the overall speed of gameplay, including enemy movement and incoming projectiles. Players can adjust the slowdown and choose whether it activates automatically during combat or through a manual toggle.

The feature gives players more time to react without removing enemy attacks or changing their patterns. A new Auto-fire option allows weapons to fire automatically when aimed at an enemy. However, reloading still requires player input, including the timing needed for a perfect reload.

Other additions include DualSense motion sensor aiming and a High Contrast Display setting that makes characters and enemies easier to distinguish. Zenith also introduces six trophies, new Photo Mode customization options and adjustments to Artifacts and gameplay balance.

Housemarque has warned that installing the update will end any active Cycle and return players to Passage. Players currently in the middle of a run should account for that change before updating. The Zenith update is available now as a free download for Saros on PS5.