A third-person shooter action-RPG set in The Expanse's story-rich sci-fi universe may seem like a no-brainer, but the studio behind The Expanse: Osiris Reborn comes as quite a surprise for those familiar with Owlcat Games. Owlcat is best known for crunchy, isometric, mechanically complex CRPGs like Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous or, more recently, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. The studio has an excellent track record of developing compelling RPGs that respect existing franchise lore, making Owlcat a suitable candidate for an Expanse game as long as it manages to pull off the third-person shooter gameplay.
In an interview with The Best War Games, Owlcat Games' Creative Director Alexander Mishulin spoke about how the studio approached this shift in perspective and the new gameplay elements the team must consider in a third-person shooter. Since Owlcat's games tend to have consistently recognizable qualities, Mishulin also weighed in on what's 'Owlcat' about The Expanse: Osiris Reborn.
How The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Is Like Dark Souls, but Not in the Way You Think
In an interview with The Best War Games, Owlcat Games' Creative Director Alexander Mishulin compares the game's approach to weaponry with that of Dark Souls.
Less Number Crunching, More Gunplay in The Expanse: Osiris Reborn
Mishulin says that, unlike other Owlcat games, Osiris Reborn won't be as heavy on number crunching. Instead, players will be determining their loadout largely by feel and playstyle, similar to how players discover a favorite loadout in Helldivers 2. Gunplay will feel different from weapon to weapon, and players will often discover weapons that align more closely with their preferred playstyle. Mishulin elaborates:
"As far as number crunching—it’s also kind of different in this game, because it’s more of an action RPG. We want it to feel more accessible. So this time around, we are more focused on the playstyles that you want to find and experience for yourself. Say you're picking up an assault rifle, and it’s just a great assault rifle—but then you’re finding the next one, and the next one will be different. It will shoot faster or slower, deal more or less damage, and be more accurate. It may also have a secondary fire mode. And you just have to feel it to understand whether it’s a good fit for you or not."
Osiris Reborn isn't all about guns, however. Mishulin pointed out that the game will feature a full arsenal of abilities that players can utilize, with many potential synergies and interactions among them. Players interested in a playstyle more akin to Mass Effect's Adept may opt for focusing on obtaining and equipping a strong combination of abilities, rather than relying on raw firepower.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Has a Unique Approach to Party Members
Owlcat Games are well-known for introducing some added spice with secondary gameplay features, such as kingdom management in Pathfinder or space battles and colony management in Rogue Trader. When asked about similar systems in Osiris Reborn, Mishulin says that these systems are largely meant to highlight party members in new situations, and that Osiris Reborn will achieve this through the ways party members may indirectly interact with the player while on a mission:
"This time around, we are focused more on the story and the characters. Companions always were front and center in our games. We're trying to make a lot of stories that highlight our characters, but this time around, we're trying to give them an even bigger spotlight.
We are going on missions with a couple of companions, but the rest of the team is not left behind, just hanging somewhere. They will be helping you in many ways throughout your mission—like, somebody could be staying on the ship and helping from the ship. But it's not like they're just sitting there waiting until you return. Somebody could be going on a couple of objectives of their own during the mission and allowing you to filter in. Or, probably, your companions will form a second team and go through the mission alongside you, with some objectives and routes of their own. Sometimes they will be helping you, and sometimes you will be helping them."
It's a welcome approach to party members in RPGs, who often seem to unrealistically cease to exist if they aren't brought along in the party. Hopefully, the broader genre will take cues from Osiris Reborn and find ways to incorporate inactive party members believably during gameplay.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is currently in development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.