Owlcat Games acknowledges Mass Effect influence to design the new The Expanse: Osiris Reborn

The game's creative director confirms that at the studio they are big fans of the Shepard trilogy and their games have been a great influence.

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The inspiration behind The Expanse Osiris Reborn is unmistakable, especially for those who have closely followed the iconic Mass Effect series from BioWare. In fact, Owlcat Games’ creative director, Alexander Mishulin, has openly admitted that his team has been influenced by the original Mass Effect trilogy, a series that has had a significant impact on the generation of developers who grew up with the Xbox 360.

In an interview with Polygon, Mishulin delved into the similarities between The Expanse Osiris Reborn and Mass Effect, highlighting that many members of his team are huge fans of the Commander Shepard-led series.

Drawing inspiration to update the essence

The influence of Mass Effect is reflected in several aspects of the game, such as the inclusion of romances, multiple choices throughout the adventure, and the option to choose a specific origin for the character. Additionally, the protagonist of The Expanse Osiris Reborn will have a twin brother, an element also found in Mass Effect Andromeda.

Despite these similarities, Mishulin acknowledges that the original Mass Effect formula has been around for many years, so Owlcat Games’ goal is to update its essence with a modern twist and a personal touch.

Today’s players are accustomed to more immediate user interfaces and more direct gameplay approaches. We don’t just want to offer a modernized version of Mass Effect, but also a game of the same genre with all the current features.

https://youtu.be/eyXGm8JCBrk

The Expanse Osiris Reborn was announced at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2025 and quickly drew attention for its striking similarity to the Electronic Arts-produced series. Although there is no confirmed release date for the game, which will be available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, it’s clear that Owlcat Games is working to create an experience that recaptures the essence of Mass Effect with a fresh and modern approach.