Owlcat Games’ game will also feature a loyalty system, which we saw in a BioWare IP over a decade ago.

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn has carried a distinct Mass Effect vibe ever since Owlcat Games first announced it. Creative director Alexander Mishulin recently attempted to create a bit of distance—though admittedly not much—between Owlcat’s latest project and BioWare’s most iconic RPG series (as previously noted). The video below is a 90-second showcase of different environments, intercut with shots of the player character casually walking around in third-person view.

The footage includes a fictional voice-over in which two mercenaries discuss where they want to go after finishing their current mission. This ties directly into the story, as in The Expanse: Osiris Reborn players work as mercenaries employed by a company called Pinkwater Security. The conversation ends with the pair choosing the asteroid Eros as their destination, which is where the story of The Expanse begins. Although the video shows no combat or dialogue sequences, the similarities to Mass Effect are striking: the atmospheric lighting and metallic corridors of Ceres Station could easily stand in for the Omega colony from Mass Effect 2. The resemblance is further reinforced by the design of the environments, NPC placement and animation, and even the movement of the player character.

After the events at Eros, players must assemble an ad hoc crew, seize a ship, and become entangled in a system-wide conspiracy. While these are fairly standard RPG elements, the game also features a third-person combat and cover system in which two companions fight alongside you. This marks a clear departure from Owlcat’s more traditional CRPG heritage. Perhaps most tellingly, the accompanying press release highlighted that our leadership decisions will directly influence how companions’ loyalty and trust evolve under pressure.

There is still no release date for The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, but it has been confirmed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC.

Source: PCGamer