Saros just got its most substantial post-launch update. Patch 02.000.000, titled Zenith, landed on October 19, 2026 for every PS5 owner of the game at no extra cost. The headline additions are Eclipse Layers (New Game+), Overlord Rush (a scored boss-rush mode with leaderboards), 20 new Carcosan Modifiers, a Crown cosmetic tied to difficulty, 12 collectible Visions, and four new accessibility options that widen who can actually finish Carcosa without softening the projectile patterns that define the game.
Eclipse Layers unlock at Passage
What does the Zenith update actually add?
Here's the short answer: two new modes, 20 modifiers, four accessibility tools, six trophies, and a lore collectible track. The table below maps every major addition to what it changes.
| Zenith addition | What it changes |
|---|---|
| Eclipse Layers | New Game+ with mandatory Trial Modifier thresholds and altered rules |
| Overlord Rush | Scored boss-rush gauntlets with global leaderboards |
| 10 new Protection Modifiers | More ways to make runs forgiving or reshape difficult mechanics |
| 10 new Trial Modifiers | Extra challenge layers for veterans and Eclipse Layer runs |
| Slow Game Speed | Slows player, hostiles, and projectiles without removing attack patterns |
| Weapon Auto-fire | Fires automatically while aiming; reloads stay manual |
| Motion Sensor Aiming | DualSense gyro control for aiming and camera |
| High Contrast Display | Solid color fills or outlines on Arjun and hostiles for readability |
| Crown and golden armor | Visual badge that scales with Modifier Balance from Eclipse Layer 2 |
| 12 Visions | Murals and etched messages unlocked by higher Crown levels |
| Six new trophies | Tied to Overlord Rush, Eclipse Layers, and new Modifiers |
| Photo Mode extras | Adjustable facial expression and Power Weapon visual toggle |
The update also adjusts Artifact balance: locked yellow containers can now drop higher-tier Artifacts, the max Artifact tier has increased, and Growth Attributes from Artifacts have been tuned. Specific Protection and Trial Modifier costs were rebalanced (Second Chance Overlord, Overlord Restoration, Alpha Hostile Enhancement, Damage Enhancement, Corruption Reduction, Damage Degradation), though Housemarque has not published the exact new values. Check the in-game Modifier panel after updating.
How does Eclipse Layers work?
Eclipse Layers is Zenith's New Game+ structure. After clearing the campaign, new nodes appear on the Armor Matrix at Passage. Unlocking those nodes opens the gate to the next Layer, each presenting a more intense version of Carcosa with altered rules.
Before a Layer run starts, you must assemble a Carcosan Modifier loadout and hit a required Trial Modifier threshold. Which Trials fill that requirement is your call. There are 25 different Trials available for loadout planning (the full Trial pool, not only the 10 new Zenith Trials), so the second playthrough is less about fighting enemies with inflated numbers and more about constructing your own particularly punishing version of Carcosa. Deeper Layers demand more Trials, though exact per-Layer thresholds are not in the public patch notes.
Modifier Mastery is also new. Dispatch hostiles while Modifiers are equipped and you accumulate Mastery for those Modifiers. Hit the threshold (tracked in-game rather than published externally) and the Modifier is marked Mastered.
What are the new Carcosan Modifiers?
Zenith splits its 20 new Modifiers evenly: 10 Protections and 10 Trials. Housemarque has named two specific examples.
Corruption Melee Enhancement (Protection): Corruption still builds on Arjun's armor after certain projectile hits and still eats maximum Integrity. With this Modifier active, built-up Corruption can be consumed by a melee strike as bonus damage. The risk stays. The answer is to close distance rather than only fearing the meter.
Hostile Regeneration (Trial): Larger hostiles can be stunned with weapon damage, then regenerate quickly. Only a melee finish actually ends them. Staying safely at range is no longer sufficient.
The mistake most players make with Trials is treating them as a flat difficulty tax. The better approach is picking Trials that push you toward a playstyle you want to develop, then letting Modifier Mastery reward the reps.
What is Overlord Rush and how do you access it?
Overlord Rush is a training simulation accessed from the Primary Unit in Passage. It drops you into scored boss gauntlets built around Carcosa's Overlords. No full run required to reach a favorite fight.
Three Sets are available:
- Incursion: three Overlords, completable in roughly 10 minutes
- Ascension: three Overlords, also around 10 minutes
- Totality: all eight Overlords in one continuous gauntlet
Scores post to an integrated global leaderboard. You can filter results by Main Weapon, so weapon specialists can chase category boards rather than only the absolute overall record. Online leaderboard access requires an internet connection and a PlayStation account.
If you want to practice individual Overlord patterns before committing to a full run, Incursion and Ascension are the obvious starting point. Our complete Saros boss guide covering all nine Carcosan Overlords is worth reviewing before you attempt Totality.
Overlord Rush opens at Passage
How does the Crown work in Eclipse Layers?
From Eclipse Layer 2 onward, Arjun wears a Crown and his armor glows golden. The Crown grows more elaborate as your Carcosan Modifier Balance rises, meaning more Trials equals a bigger, more impressive Crown. It is effectively a visible record of how aggressively you modified the game against yourself.
The Crown also gates the new Visions of a King collectible track. Across Carcosa, 12 Visions wait in the form of murals and etched messages from an ancient king. Finding a Vision is only part of the job: higher Crown levels are required to perceive additional story text within them. If you want everything the new lore has to say, you need to push deeper into the Trial system.
What accessibility options does Zenith add?
Housemarque's explicit design goal with Zenith's accessibility additions is to give players more control over the experience without removing the projectile patterns that define Saros combat. All four new options work within that constraint.
Slow Game Speed lowers the pace of the entire game (player, hostiles, projectiles) so you have more time to read telegraphs and choose a response. You control how much it slows and whether it activates automatically in combat or only when you toggle it manually.
Weapon Auto-fire fires your Main Weapon and/or Power Weapon automatically while you aim at a hostile. Reloads are not automated. Perfect reloads still require a timed button press, so Housemarque is deliberately preserving that layer of skill expression.
Motion Sensor Aiming adds DualSense gyro control for aiming and camera movement.
High Contrast Display highlights Arjun and hostiles with a solid color fill, a colored outline, or both. It targets readability in dense projectile storms rather than changing any damage values.
Combined with the existing button remapping that was already in the game, Zenith gives players a considerably wider control surface than launch.
Who should jump into Zenith first?
The update serves two distinct groups, and the right entry point depends entirely on where you are in the game.
If you bounced off Saros because the projectile density felt unreadable, turn on Slow Game Speed and High Contrast Display before touching anything else. Auto-fire is worth adding if holding a trigger through long fights is physically uncomfortable. None of these options remove the attacks. They give you more time and visibility to answer them. Check out the Saros beginner's guide if you are still finding your footing with the Armor Matrix, Adrenaline meter, and weapon scaling.
If you already finished the campaign and want more, open Eclipse Layers immediately. Build a Trial loadout you can live with, start accumulating Modifier Mastery, and chase the Crown through the 12 Visions for the new lore.
If you want pure boss practice, Overlord Rush is the fastest path. Start with Incursion or Ascension to warm up on three-Overlord sets before attempting Totality. The leaderboard filter by Main Weapon means you can set a meaningful personal target even if the overall top 10 is out of reach.
Build experimenters should note that half the new Modifiers only unlock in Eclipse Layers, so the full 20-Modifier pool is not available until NG+.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Zenith update free? Yes. Patch 02.000.000 is available to all Saros owners on PS5 at no additional cost.
What patch number is Zenith? Housemarque Support lists it as Patch 02.000.000. Some PS5 consoles also downloaded a companion 2.000.001 package on the same day.
Does Auto-fire handle reloads? No. Auto-fire fires while you aim at a hostile, but perfect reloads still require a manual timed press.
How many Visions are in Zenith? 12, presented as murals and etched messages from an ancient king across Carcosa. Higher Crown levels unlock additional story text on each Vision.
Do I need to finish the campaign for Eclipse Layers? Yes. Eclipse Layers unlock after clearing Saros, via new nodes on the Armor Matrix at Passage.
Can I filter Overlord Rush leaderboards by weapon? Yes. The integrated leaderboard can be filtered by Main Weapon for category-specific competition.
For the full picture on every Carcosan Overlord you will face in Totality and Eclipse Layers alike, the Saros strategy guides collection has phase-by-phase breakdowns for every fight.
