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The Expanse: Osiris Reborn turned a lot of eyes when it was announced recently at the Game Awards Show for several reasons - The game looks stunning, it’s based on a beloved sci-fi universe, it’s being developed by a studio known for excellent RPGs, and its similarities to Mass Effect are hard to ignore.
In a recent interview with Polygon, Owlcat Games shared more details about their highly anticipated title, diving into the choice and consequence systems, how they’re handling comparisons to Mass Effect, and much more.
Inspired by Mass Effect, but not a copy
When asked about their creative influences, Owlcat Games didn’t shy away from crediting Mass Effect as a major inspiration. Many developers on the team grew up playing BioWare’s acclaimed space RPG series, but they’re quick to clarify that Osiris Reborn is not trying to copy the game.
“It would be impossible to deny that Mass Effect has had a lot of impact on us as game developers,” the team shared. However, they emphasized they aren’t trying to recreate or modernize Mass Effect, but instead create something new in the same genre - a choice-driven space RPG - while embracing modern gameplay features and more intuitive systems that today’s players expect.
Deep choices and nuanced consequences
At the heart of The Expanse: Osiris Reborn lies a strong focus on player choice and narrative agency. Owlcat promises that decisions won’t just split the story into “good” or “evil” paths. Instead, choices will create ripple effects across the story and relationships, particularly among your companions.
Nuance is key here: you won’t be forced into a purely heroic or villainous role, and your decisions will have layered impacts on how characters perceive and react to you. Companion dynamics, in particular, will be heavily shaped by these choices - and they won’t always agree with your decisions.
Background matters: Earther, Martian, or Belter
A standout feature in Osiris Reborn is the emphasis on your character’s origin story. Choosing to play as an Earther, Martian, or Belter will dramatically affect how you’re treated by NPCs and even determine which quests and locations become available.
For example, playing as an Earther or Martian on Ceres might lead to hostility and limited opportunities due to the long-standing tensions and events like the destruction of the Canterbury. In contrast, playing as a Belter opens doors to more side quests, deeper interactions, and new areas to explore.
As Owlcat puts it: “On the other hand, if you are of another origin, there will be other opportunities and other places for you to explore.”
Complex family and romantic relationships
The game’s narrative depth doesn’t stop at political tensions. Your character’s twin sibling will also join the adventure, and they won’t always see eye-to-eye with your decisions. This dynamic is designed to add personal stakes and emotional layers to the story.
On top of that, multiple romanceable companions among the ship’s crew have been confirmed by Owlcat, which will certainly make many fans happy.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is coming to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
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