If you’ve spent years obsessing over Returnal – one of the best PS5 exclusives – you have something to look forward to. The developers of Returnal, Housemarque, have announced that two new books will be released this October. Published by Dark Horse, one is a 224-page art book called The Art of Returnal and the other is an 88-page graphic novel based on the original game, called Returnal: Fallen Asteria. They will be released on October 22, 2024, and you’ll find them in bookstores, comic book shops, and through online retailers.
What Is Returnal: Fallen Asteria?
Fallen Asteria seems like it will expand on Selene’s time-loop story from the 2021 game. Housemarque put up a motion comic of the first issue of the graphic novel, which you can watch above. BAFTA winner Jane Perry returned to voice Selene Vassos, which features some action and an off-kilter flashback sequence. The credits for the comic and the Amazon listing (which you can find here), list Gregory Louden and Eevi Korhonen as writers of the graphic novel (with Khalil Osaimi as editor), who were a part of the original narrative team for the game.
Housemarque’s brand director, Mikael Haveri, also worked on the story as did the artist Igor Lomov. Lomov and Aaron Järvinen are responsible for Fallen Asteria’s incredible art which seems to be primarily in black and white, though there are some pops of color at the end. It’s an interesting choice for a game known for such vibrant colors. Some fans might have been hoping for a sequel announcement after Housemarque teased an announcement on Twitter yesterday, and might be dismayed. But, these books should settle diehard fans. There’s still no news on whether Returnal will get a sequel, and we don’t currently know what Housemarque is working on.
Fallen Asteria and The Art of Returnal will be released on October 22, 2024. But, in the meantime, you can play Returnal on PlayStation 5 now.
