A free update coming to Returnal will bring some new game modes with it.
Returnal: Ascension will introduce a survival mode called Tower of Sisyphus and campaign co-op.
Developers said players will be able to access the cooperative mode by accessing the Chronosis portal near the crash landing (in addition to other “select parts of the game”) and have the option between hosting or joining a public cycle.
“In co-op, the game works in a similar fashion to single-player Returnal. However, if players get too far apart, they will be tethered back together. This is to ensure that the focus remains on cooperative gameplay and both players feel connected to the fates of each other. If one of the players is downed, there is still hope: the other one has the option to revive them. But be wary that this will require some time investment, and in the heat of battle you’ll need to be mindful of the myriad surrounding threats, lest you join your fallen comrade in oblivion,” Game Director Harry Krueger said in a blog post.
In co-op, game progression is tied to the host and player who join another world will get to keep some collected items like logs and xenoglyphs as well as seeing their Scout Rank grow.
“True to our arcade roots, the Tower of Sisyphus is effectively our Endless mode. Players will strive to ascend the Tower as high as possible – however, much like the tragic story of Sisyphus, there is no end to the climb and players are tragically destined to meet their demise as the mode gets increasingly harder. The only question is: how far can you get before succumbing?” Krueger wrote on the second game mode to be introduced in Ascension.
Developers said that each Phase in the Tower will end in an encounter with Algos which will get increasing harder as players advance.
“Unlike the campaign, in the Tower players will also have a score to chase. You can track your progress and highest score on a leaderboard, and compete against your friends and foes for the highest rank. Much like our previous arcade-inspired titles, you will also have a Score Multiplier – keeping this up and increasing it will be the key to racking up the highest possible scores,” Krueger wrote. “Your Multiplier will deplete if you get hit or if you don’t deal damage for a while, so you’ll need to be constantly dancing on the knife’s edge to ensure you maintain strong forward momentum. While there are secrets and optional routes to take, the Tower is intended to be Returnal distilled into an arcade action experience, where the emphasis is on survival, skill, and focused progression.
The Ascension update will release on March 22.
