To mark the release of the brand new free Ascension update, developer Housemarque has pushed out the Returnal 3.0 update. You’ll find all the changes and new content heading to the PlayStation 5 exclusive in the latest Returnal update right here on this page.
Returnal 3.0 introduces two new modes. The first is co-op, something Housemarque teased recently. The second is a new endless survival mode, dubbed Tower of Sisyphus. The clue is in the name; players ascend a tower in search of the highest score possible. Tower of Sisyphus also weaves in new story beats for protagonist Selene along with new weapons, levels, and a new boss.
Returnal 3.0 also features bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements, although Housemarque stopped short of detailing these in the patch notes beyond a passing mention. Check out the complete patch notes below for all the details about Returnal 3.0’s new modes.
Returnal 3.0 Update Patch Notes
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Co-op: Combine forces with a second Selene
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Tower of Sisyphus: Endless mode, where Selene is drawn to climb the Tower and solve its mysteries, and the player is chasing the highest score
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Bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements
New features:
Co-op
Using the Chronosis portal lets you summon a second Selene from another timeline, so now you can combine forces with a friend and face the dangers of Atropos together. You have the choice of joining or hosting a public session or alternatively hosting a private session.
Progression is tied to the host, but the client players who join a session will be able to keep some of the process they make – such as collecting logs and xenoglyphs – and they’re able to level up their Scout Rank based on how many players they help by joining a session.
In co-op mode the world of Atropos has been rebalanced, so Returnal remains the treacherous experience you know and love.
Note that the Tower of Sisyphus, House sequences, and Daily Challenge are not available in Co-op Mode.
Tower of Sisyphus
True to our arcade roots, the Tower of Sisyphus brings an endless survival mode in Returnal. You strive to ascend the tower as high as possible, chasing a high score by increasing and keeping up your score multiplier, until Selene meets her demise in the hands of the many hazards of the Tower.
You make your way up the Tower of Sisyphus in phases, and each phase will lead up to a battle against the new boss, Algos. While there are optional routes and secrets to be found, in the Tower the emphasis is on survival, skill, and focused progression.
The Tower of Sisyphus brings new levels, new special weapons, and a new boss, but also continues the story of Selene as you climb the Tower.
Returnal is out now for PlayStation 5. For more on the latest Returnal update, head to developer Housemarque’s official website here.