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Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader developer Owlcat Games is making the Mass Effect BioWare hasn’t with the studio’s upcoming The Expanse: Osiris Reborn.
While the developer’s CRPG teams on Rogue Trader and the upcoming Dark Heresy still want to make more 40K games, another part of the now-massive studio is working on its cinematic, third-person sci-fi.
Set between season 1 and 2 of the sci-fi show, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn aims to bring the “very open” storytelling of the developer’s past CRPGs, complete with touch choices that have real repercussions, into the sci-fi universe.
“You will be seeing with your own eyes the repercussions of Holden’s actions, all the situations like The Canterbury, and how it affects people in the belt, people in the inner planets,” Osiris Rising creative director Alexander Mishulin said in an interview with CNET.
“You will be having your own adventure with your own goals, choices, consequences in the same universe [with] all the major events unfolding in this universe alongside your story.”
Interestingly, for the game’s RPG gameplay, Owlcat has ripped out the usual class system that dominates the genre. Instead, character creation is entirely freeform “allowing you to build whatever character you like” without being stuck into a specific build.
As with Mass Effect, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn requires players to choose party members to go out on missions with them. However, unlike Mass Effect, remaining party members won’t just wait for you to get back. Instead, they’ll go on their own missions, completing their own objectives and growing in line with you.
As for the game’s party storytelling, Mishulin explains that the system is inspired by Persona 5, albeit more mature. Players will engage with party members, hang out and increase their bond which will result in “similar” bonuses.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is a much different, and more expensive game, than Owlcat’s typical releases. However, as someone who’s been waiting for something to scratch that Mass Effect itch since the finale of Mass Effect 3 (I don’t hate Andromeda, it just didn’t scratch that itch), this adventure is incredibly exciting.
Of course, BioWare is also working on its official Mass Effect 5 project of which we know very little. After the underwhelming Dragon Age: The Veilguard – which was plagued by EA decisions throughout development – I really hope BioWare can pull off this long-awaited RPG.
And if Mass Effect 4 or 5 or whatever and The Expanse: Osiris Reborn are both fantastic? Oh my God, two cakes! That’s the absolute best outcome.
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