Owlcat Games has announced the recast of the male protagonist and J, his twin brother, in their upcoming sci-fi game The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. Last month, Owlcat released a Beta for the highly anticipated title, which came out to mixed reviews from both the fans and critics. Much of the feedback focused specifically on the voice acting and writing, and it seems Owlcat has listened closely, confirming that both characters will receive new voice actors ahead of the game’s 2027 release.
This marks Owlcat’s first venture into a licensed sci-fi IP and their first time developing a third-person shooter. The studio is best known for narrative-driven RPGs, including Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, which are praised for their character writing and branching storylines.
In a statement, the studio noted that while the original performers “put in a lot of good work, they felt less expressive than we wanted.” This recast is one of the several changes Owlcat is implementing following the release of the Beta survey, which was filled by more than 7,000 players. The studio is also working on improving facial and body animations to feel more natural and polished, and conversations to make the character reactions feel more grounded, which was also a major point of discussion post-Beta release.
But it’s not all criticism; Owlcat also highlighted the positive feedback they’ve received so far, with players praising the visuals, the EVA gameplay, the music, and the overall atmosphere of Pinkwater 4 station. Betas have become a very common practice in the gaming industry over the past several years, with many studios using them as a way to improve player experience while also serving as an essential part of the game’s promotional rollout.
With EXODUS, a sci-fi shooter from Archetype Entertainment, also releasing in 2027, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn will need to distinguish itself in what is shaping up to be a competitive year for sci-fi RPGs.
