Returnal PC release date, specs and features trailer revealed
Housemarque’s game makes the jump from PS5 to PC in February
Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced that the PC version of Returnal will be released on February 15, 2023.
The game’s release date was revealed alongside its PC specifications and a new features trailer, which are viewable below.
“NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR have been added, allowing you to dial up your framerate without compromising on resolution,” Housemarque brand director Mikael Haveri said in an accompanying PlayStation Blog post.
“NVIDIA NIS has also been added for those players who also want to see an increase in performance, but don’t have the hardware to support DLSS or FSR.
The PC version of the game, which has been developed by UK-based Climax Studios (Silent Hill: Origins, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories), adds support for ray-traced reflections in addition to the ray-traced shadows supported on PS5.
“This will make the contrast of a dark setting and neon bullets pop out even more than before,” said Haveri. “All of this can be now seen in two new wide resolution formats, Ultrawide at 21:9 and Super Ultrawide 32:9. Think of all of that screen real estate that you will be able to take in when you’re not in the middle of a giant boss fight.”
He added: “Enjoy the award-winning audio and music through Dolby Atmos, two 3D audio solutions, or 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound.”
The game supports customisable keyboard and mouse controls although Haveri said it’s “best experienced on a DualSense controller in its full haptic feedback and adaptive trigger glory”.
Returnal released for PS5 in April 2021 and is Finnish studio Housemarque’s largest and most ambitious title to date, following several decades focused on 2D arcade-style shooters such as Super Stardust HD and Resogun. A few months later Housemarque was acquired by Sony.
Following months of speculation, a PC port of Returnal was finally announced in December 2022.
Housemarque’s next game will be a new intellectual property rather than a sequel, although the title will incorporate ideas and narrative systems originally planned for Returnal.
