New Returnal gameplay trailer shows much more of the PS5 roguelike in action

PS5 roguelike Returnal dropped a new gameplay trailer today, and it's as much a weapons showcase as it is a deep-dive on its bullet hell-inspired combat. 

The trailer opens with protagonist Selene looting an alien assault rifle, as well as an add-on for another weapon. This represents the primary way that you can upgrade your arsenal in Returnal, as developer Housemarque explained in an accompanying PlayStation Blog post

"The game features a number of base weapons that are augmented as you play," says creative director Harry Krueger. "For example, the living Spitmaw Blaster weapon starts as a shotgun archetype you all know and love. As you progress, you’ll unlock and add on various Weapon Traits, each providing a unique gameplay modifier to the base weapon’s behavior." 

There are 10 weapons in all, and each one has stackable modifiers (with a total of 90 in the game) as well as one alternate firing mode. The latter feature makes pretty clever use of the PS5's DualSense controller. By default, you can activate a weapon's alt-fire by pressing the left trigger fully, while pressing it halfway will aim down sights using the standard firing mode. If you're not into the whole adaptive trigger thing, you can simply change the control scheme.  

Selene's equipment can be further modified through equippable tools as well as parasites that have big upsides offset by considerable downsides. Housemarque seems to have tapped into the risk and reward balancing act that makes great roguelikes so compelling, and as ever, we're looking forward to trying its take on the genre for ourselves. 

We spoke to Housemarque about Returnal being the next step in the studio's evolution, and how it was designed to "create unlimited replay value."

Austin Wood
Senior writer

Austin has been a game journalist for 12 years, having freelanced for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, IGN, Sports Illustrated, and more while finishing his journalism degree. He's been with GamesRadar+ since 2019. They've yet to realize his position is a cover for his career-spanning Destiny column, and he's kept the ruse going with a lot of news and the occasional feature, all while playing as many roguelikes as possible.

Latest in Action
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows will take upwards of 80 hours for completionists, creative director confirms, and Ubisoft is considering adding New Game+ post launch
Monster Hunter Wilds trailer screenshot showing a young woman with long blonde hair tied back into a ponytail smiling slightly, pumping her left fist in the air
Monster Hunter Wilds' worst feature is its "ridiculously poorly built UI," according to fans of the new action RPG – but there's already "a mod that fixes that"
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing female protagonist Naoe
I figured Assassin's Creed Shadows' Red Bull collab would just be some naff cosmetics, but it's actually a pair of surprisingly useful gameplay boons for Naoe and Yasuke
Fighting side-scrolling opponents in Absolum
Street of Rage 4's developer returns with Absolum – a fantasy flavored beat 'em up with a Hades twist
John Cena stares evilly while embracing Cody Rhodes
"We got heel Cena before GTA 6": Even John Cena himself is comparing the 20-year wait for his WWE heel turn to the 12-year wait for the next Grand Theft Auto
Two characters pointing at the camera in LA Noire
GTA developer Rockstar opens new Australian branch by acquiring the studio that's been working on its ports for "this past decade"
Latest in News
Still from upcoming horror movie The Woman in the Yard
Blumhouse horror movie The Woman in the Yard's new trailer has genre fans trying to predict its twist – and some of their theories sound pretty plausible
Dave Bautista in In the Lost Lands
Dave Bautista says playing a vampire is "at the top of my list" after starring in Resident Evil director’s werewolf fantasy In the Lost Lands
a bulldozer on a dirt road
We all yearn for construction jobs as simulator RoadCraft takes a podium spot in Steam Next Fest's most-played demos just behind PvP mech game Mecha Break
A Monster Hunter Wilds character holding binoculars.
Capcom asks Monster Hunter Wilds players how they feel about the game in a survey longer than most hunts, and I guess y'all had feedback because it crashed due to "heavy traffic"
Sean Astin and Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings
Lord of the Rings star Elijah Wood gives unexpected answer on what movie should be removed from cinematic history: "There's nothing pure about it"
Sparkly Catan Hex tiles and metal buildings with a hand reaching down to move them
This Catan Kickstarter will yassify your copy of the board game, and it's already hit $300,000 in pledges