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A Returnal save option is now available after the 2.0 update, allowing players some ability to save their progress mid-run and come back later. It's a little unclear to those who are approaching the game for the first time, like newcomers to Returnal on PC, but we'll explain it here and how the Returnal save system works.
Returnal save system and mechanics explained
Returnal had no proper save function until the 2.0 update in October 2021, but now there is... sort of one. Since the new update, players can use the "suspend cycle" option, which saves the game at your location - assuming you're not in combat or in a story-related section. This will save your progress even if you quit the game, but its limited - you can't have more than one save file, and it's erased the moment you start the game back up. It effectively serves as a pause button that'll last even when your PS5 or PC is turned off, rather than a checkpoint you can reload whenever you want. Returnal doesn't have a feature like that, and it looks like they're not going to add one any time soon, considering it would go against the game's intentional difficulty.
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If you don't choose to suspend the cycle as mentioned above, quitting the game will revert you back to the last time you were at Helios, the only time that the game saves your progress - i.e., before you can make any.
We say that, but some items and unlocks are permanent though, lasting from run to run. Ether is a currency that persists throughout runs and one of the things you can spend it on is the pillar by your ship, which unlocks new artefacts and consumables for the item pool. These aren't guaranteed, but you essentially unlock the chance to find them on each new run. Throughout the story, you'll also find new mechanics and tools like the sword and grappling hook, both of Selene can permanently access after acquiring.
