Owlcat Games is going a very different route with The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. The studio is usually known for deep, systems-heavy RPGs like Pathfinder and Rogue Trader, but this time it is tackling a third-person action RPG based on the sci-fi series. In terms of scope and ambition, it is the biggest game Owlcat has worked on so far.
Still an RPG, Just Built Differently
Even though the game has a more cinematic look, Owlcat is not abandoning its RPG roots. The Expanse uses the same internal tech that tracks player decisions and reacts to them throughout the story. Dialogue choices, consequences, and narrative states are still a core part of the experience, just rebuilt for Unreal Engine.
One of the biggest changes is scale. Osiris Reborn will feature much higher visual fidelity than anything Owlcat has ever done before, powered by Unreal Engine 5 features like Nanite and Lumen. The team behind the game is also much larger, now three to four times the size of previous projects.
Zero-G Combat and Player Freedom
Another area Owlcat Games is very proud of is the zero-gravity gameplay. Combat and movement in space stations required a lot of technical work, especially to avoid disorientation and motion sickness. Magnetic boots ended up being the best, most realistic solution, keeping movement readable while still selling the danger of space.
On the gameplay side, Osiris Reborn focuses on flexibility rather than set roles:
- No traditional class system, with freely customizable builds
- Companions that work like Mass Effect, controlled through combat orders
- Linear opening hours, followed by much more player freedom
- Exploration across the solar system, including Mars, Luna, Ceres, and Ganymede
How Real Space Experience Shapes The Game
Owlcat is also working with former NASA astronaut and ISS commander Leroy Chiao to make sure that the game’s sci-fi is grounded in real space experience. One major inspiration is the fear astronauts face during spacewalks, especially the risk of becoming detached and drifting away.
Rather than going full simulation, the team is trying to go for a believable balance. Real tethers used during EVAs were considered too clumsy for gameplay, which is why magnetic boots became a creative compromise. Sound design also follows the same idea. Space itself is silent, but astronauts constantly hear breathing, suit systems, and vibrations. The game will reflect this by focusing on what the character physically feels, without overwhelming players with silence or noise.
Details like weapon behavior in zero gravity, crew dynamics, and even food aboard the ship are also informed by real spaceflight, with the goal of helping Osiris Reborn feel immersive without losing its pacing.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn does not have a release date yet, but it is already available to wishlist.
Source: Epic Games Store
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