The Expanse: Osiris Reborn reveals new details via its latest dev diary
Owlcat Games have released another look at The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, with a new dev diary, this one featuring former NASA astronaut and ISS commander Leroy Chiao, who is helping to ensure that space feels like it should. Check it out below.
To make space life in the game realistic and fun, Owlcat worked with former NASA pilot and ISS commander Leroy Chiao. They used his real experience of moving, breathing, and eating in space. For example, astronauts like spicy food to make up for lost taste, so the game shows characters craving hot, spicy meals.
The team sometimes moved away from a fully realistic space view to keep the gameplay fun. Real astronauts use tethers when outside their ships, but since that would be tricky in a game, magnetic boots were added instead.
The same approach applies to combat: firearm ballistics and recoil work differently in zero-G than on solid ground, and famously, there is (almost) no sound in space. However, since sound effects and weapon feedback are important elements of what makes combat in games feel good, the team had to find a compromise. Sound in game is muffled, but players can still get feedback in the form of vibrations, breathing, and radio sound.
In zero-gravity environments, the absence of traditional recoil changes how players must aim and control their weapons, demanding a more nuanced understanding of momentum and force. Projectiles do not drop due to gravity, and the recoil pushes the shooter in the opposite direction, which can affect positioning and strategy. To reflect this in gameplay, the physics engine had to be carefully calibrated to simulate these effects realistically, providing a unique combat challenge that contrasts with terrestrial shooter mechanics.
Because sound cannot travel through the vacuum of space, the developers relied heavily on alternative sensory cues to maintain immersion and player awareness. Vibrations through the controller simulate the tactile sense of firing a weapon or taking hits, ensuring that combat still feels impactful. Breathing sounds emphasize the character's physical exertion and tension, adding an emotional layer to encounters. Radio communications create a sense of connection and urgency, offering useful audio cues without breaking the spatial expectations of silence in space.
This blend of muffled sound effects and supplementary feedback mechanisms strikes a balance between realism and player experience. It preserves the authenticity of space combat physics while keeping the gameplay engaging and responsive. The result is a combat system that feels fresh and immersive, challenging players to adapt their tactics to the unique conditions of zero-G combat without losing the satisfying sensory experience that makes shooters enjoyable.
The game will release on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, but there is no date at this time.
