Owlcat Games
Owlcat Games business and news from across the web.
Still With Me, Dear Reader?Rue Valley is a narrative-driven game that explores themes of mental health and personal tragedy through a unique time-loop mechanic, standing apart from games like Disco Elysium. Despite clunky game design, its empathetic approach to character development and its 47-minute in-game loop offer a resonant experience for players grappling with similar challenges. The article recommends the game for its strong writing and encourages players to seek mental health resources if needed.- Celebrate 10 Years of Warhammer Skulls This May: Expect Updates on Space Marine 2, Darktide AND Exciting World Premieres!Games Workshop announced the return of Warhammer Skulls, a showcase for Warhammer video games, taking place on May 21st. The event will feature updates and world premieres from various developers, including anticipated titles like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and Warhammer 40,000: Darktide. Additionally, sales on select Warhammer video games will run until May 28th.
Digital Vortex Entertainment to Showcase DREADMOOR at BitSummit PUNCH 2026Digital Vortex Entertainment and Dream Dock will showcase their upcoming dark first-person fishing adventure game, DREADMOOR, at BitSummit PUNCH in Kyoto, Japan, from May 23-24, 2026. Attendees can experience a new build featuring fishing, a day-night cycle, tentacle attacks, a quest journal, plot elements, and new infection and madness mechanics. The game is slated for a Q4 2026 release on PC via Steam.- A Servitor Jukebox, an AMA with the Developers and More: “Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy” Reveals Wishlist Goal CampaignOwlcat Games has launched a Wishlist Goal campaign on Steam for Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, offering community-driven bonuses tied to wishlist milestones. Rewards include digital content, in-game items, and an AMA session with developers. The CRPG will be released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Debate: Is turn-based or real-time-with-pause better for CRPGs?This article debates whether turn-based combat or real-time-with-pause is superior for Computer Role-Playing Games (CRPGs), using Baldur's Gate 3 as a primary example. It explores arguments for both systems, highlighting how turn-based combat allows for more intricate and puzzle-like encounters, a view supported by developers like Josh Sawyer of Obsidian Entertainment and the progression of Owlcat Games' titles.
Alien Disclosure: The U.S releasing the UAP files ties into gaming tropes rather nicelyThe recent declassification of UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) files by the U.S. Department of War, FBI, and NASA has sparked discussions about their connection to gaming tropes. While no definitive proof of alien life was revealed, the release of reports from military personnel and astronauts, including transcripts from Apollo missions and sightings near military bases, highlights a growing seriousness in addressing these events. This influx of real-world mystery provides a rich source of inspiration for science fiction games exploring themes of space exploration, alien encounters, and humanity's place in the cosmos, as seen in titles like The Outer Wilds, Aphelion, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, Exodus, and Kerbal Space Program.
10 Best sci-fi RPGs to play in 2026This list highlights the top 10 science fiction RPGs to play, focusing on strong world-building and classic sci-fi themes. Games like Mass Effect Legendary Edition, Cyberpunk 2077, and Starfield are featured for their immersive narratives and futuristic settings.
Borderlands 4 Studio Has a “No AI in Any Work That Could Ever be Seen by Any Customer” PolicyGearbox Entertainment CEO Randy Pitchford stated that the studio has a strict policy against using generative AI in any work that could be seen by customers. This comes amid broader industry discussions about AI in game development, with figures like Todd Howard from Bethesda Game Studios also expressing caution. While some studios are exploring AI for prototyping, Gearbox maintains a firm stance on artistic intention and customer-facing content.
Hands On: The Expanse's PS5 RPG Has Serious Potential, But Its Protagonist Is a Big ProblemThe Expanse: Osiris Reborn, a sci-fi RPG for PlayStation 5, shows significant potential based on a closed beta demo, featuring hard sci-fi elements and impressive environmental destruction during combat. However, the protagonist's voice acting, particularly the male lead, is a major concern that detracts from the experience, though the developer Owlcat Games has time to address these issues before its 2027 release.- 35 minuter från Owlcats rymdopera The Expanse: Osiris RebornOwlcat Games has released a 35-minute gameplay video for their upcoming action-focused title, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. The game is set between seasons 1 and 2 of The Expanse series and will feature dialogue, exploration, and combat. It is planned for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Mass Effect spiritual successor The Expanse: Osiris Reborn launches closed betaThe Expanse: Osiris Reborn, a spiritual successor to Mass Effect from developer Owlcat Games, has launched its closed beta. Access is currently limited to players who purchase the 'Miller's Pack' for $80 USD or higher editions. The beta features the game's second mission, offering a glimpse into combat and player choice, with the full release planned for 2027.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Closed Beta Starts Today for FoundersOwlcat Games has launched the closed beta for The Expanse: Osiris Reborn for founders on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players who purchased specific founder packs can now access the story-driven action RPG, which features combat, zero-g movement, and companion interactions. The beta will remain active until the game's planned Spring 2027 release.
Owlcat Games’ Romance Writing Problem: All Three Female Love Interests Are CannibalsOwlcat Games, known for RPGs like Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, has acknowledged an unusual pattern in their character writing: all three of their current female romance options are cannibals. This oversight highlights challenges in character diversity and the potential for unconscious repetition in game development. The studio is praised for its transparency in admitting the mistake, which serves as a case study for better character creation oversight and systematic review processes in the industry.- The Expanse: Osiris Reborn preview — Filling a Mass Effect-shaped voidThe Expanse: Osiris Reborn is an upcoming third-person action RPG from Owlcat Games, built on Unreal Engine 5, that aims to fill the void left by the Mass Effect series. Players will take on the role of a security employee fighting against the Protegen corporation in a story set within The Expanse universe. Despite some technical issues during the preview, the game shows promise with its companion system, real-time combat, and detailed graphics.
Round Up: The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Really Does Sound Like the PS5 Mass Effect Successor We NeedPreviews for the sci-fi RPG The Expanse: Osiris Reborn from Owlcat Games are emerging from its closed beta on PC, with many drawing comparisons to Mass Effect. The game, which is also slated for a PlayStation 5 release next year, has received positive impressions for its world-building and narrative choices, though some early feedback notes concerns about floaty shooting mechanics and a fiddly cover system.- Prepare Your Space Suit and Have Some Coffee: The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Closed Beta for Founders Launches Today Owlcat Games has launched the closed beta for The Expanse: Osiris Reborn for Founders on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players who purchased specific editions can now experience the story-driven action-RPG, which is set in the universe of the hit sci-fi series and focuses on companions, player choices, and dynamic third-person combat. The game is scheduled for a full release in Spring 2027.
I was worried Owlcat couldn't pull off Mass Effect-style cinematic action in its big new RPG, but after an hour of blowing stuff up in The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, I'm feeling very reassuredOwlcat Games is transitioning from isometric RPGs like Pathfinder: Kingmaker to a Mass Effect-inspired action RPG with The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. An hour-long preview showcased third-person combat, special abilities, and environmental destruction, reassuring concerns about the studio's ability to handle a major genre shift. While the RPG elements were lightly touched upon, the action sequences and visual spectacle suggest a promising leap forward for the developer, with a planned release in spring 2027.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn plays like a Mass Effect-like sci-fi adventure in fine form, but its developer's use of AI raises some difficult questionsThe Expanse: Osiris Reborn, developed by Owlcat Games, presents a promising Mass Effect-like science-fiction RPG experience with impressive visuals powered by Unreal Engine 5. While the gameplay demo showcases engaging combat, dialogue, and environmental destruction, the studio's use of generative AI tools during development raises ethical questions about the final product's human-made status.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn Beta offers a glimpse of something special coming in 2027The beta for Owlcat Games' The Expanse: Osiris Reborn offers a glimpse into its hard sci-fi worldbuilding, blending traditional Owlcat gameplay with Mass Effect-like dialogue and combat. The preview highlights detailed environments, a robust build system, and unique combat mechanics that leverage the game's zero-gravity physics, with a full release anticipated in 2027.
After an hour in the beta, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is both a limp Mass Effect and a leaden interpretation of a very good TV showThe Expanse: Osiris Reborn, an RPG adaptation of the TV show, shows promise in its hard sci-fi elements like artificial gravity combat, but suffers from underdeveloped characters and formulaic gameplay. While Owlcat Games has successfully translated its experience from Warhammer 40,000 into a third-person shooter format, the current beta build lacks the engaging personalities and narrative depth found in the source material or comparable titles like Mass Effect.