The Expanse: Osiris Reborn vs BLACKWOOD

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only (Party-Based Combat)
• Setting: The Expanse Universe (Parallel to Books 1 & 2)
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Release Window: TBA (Expected 2026)
• Unique Feature: Owlcat Games' first third-person action RPG, focusing on tactical real-time combat and zero-G scientific realism within the highly political setting of The Expanse.

• Perspective: Third-Person
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: 2012 Brooklyn, New York
• Platforms: PC
• Release Window: Q3 2026
• Unique Feature: A unique dual-life gameplay system that blends life simulation as a DVD store owner with a brutal, cinematic, John Wick-inspired third-person shooter.

• Crew: The player leads a crew of six companions, two of whom join the Captain in active combat. Their skills, personalities, and relationship dynamics are heavily developed throughout the campaign.
  Human (Earther, Martian, Belter)

• Strategic Assets: Gained from completing missions. Temporary benefits like intelligence networks or auxiliary infantry used on the strategic layer.
• Ship Components: Resources and components used to upgrade and customize the frigate Gemini.

• DVDs: As the owner of a DVD store, players can buy and sell films, which may function as a form of collectible.
• Lore Items: The detailed world is filled with environmental storytelling (ads, tattoos, posters) that piece together the game's narrative.

• Sci-Fi
• Hard Sci-Fi
• Action RPG
• Political Intrigue
• Zero-G Combat
• Narrative-Driven
• Space Opera

• Action
• Thriller
• Third-Person Shooter
• Hitman
• Dual Life
• Crime
• Narrative-Driven
• Beat 'em up

• Firearms: Varies (Rifles, Pistols)
  Standard projectile weapons. Ballistics and recoil are realistically simulated based on the atmosphere and gravity of the combat zone.
• Crew Abilities: Supernatural / Technical
  Unique abilities tied to the crew's specializations, used in real-time combat, such as disabling enemy systems or providing targeted fire support.

• Firearms: Varies
  A diverse arsenal of over 30 unique weapons for fast, stylish, and unforgiving gunplay.
• Hand-to-Hand: Melee
  A core component of combat, used in the game's extensive and brutal takedown system.
• Environmental Weapons: Improvised
  Players can use the environment around them to eliminate enemies with precision and style as part of the contextual finisher system.

• Vacsuits / Combat Armor: Armor is essential for survival in zero-G and low-atmosphere environments. Armor sets can be customized and built through looting or buying, providing defensive stats and possibly skill bonuses.

• Crew Uniforms: Players can customize the appearance of the Captain, including gender, hairstyle, and outfit. Premium editions include exclusive armor skins and casual outfits (like Miller's OPA Heavy Armor).

Character progression is flexible, avoiding rigid classes. Players invest skill points into areas like science and persuasion, which are checked against skill levels (not RNG). The system is designed to be deeper than modern casual RPGs, with consequences for specialization. The level cap is 30. Players upgrade weapons, armor, and the Gemini ship.

The game incorporates light RPG elements to make Anton's dual identity feel more tangible. While specific skill trees have not been detailed, progression is tied to mastering the combat system, which includes fluid movement (dives, rolls, slides) and a vast arsenal of over 30 unique weapons. A key part of the gameplay is mastering the game's 30+ contextual finishers.

The game is structured as a series of explorable zones and habitats (Ganymede, Mars, Luna) rather than a single open world. The core environment is the vastness of space, with tactical zero-G combat being a major component. The Gemini frigate serves as the mobile hub and base of operations.

The game takes place in the open world of 2012 New York. The city is designed to be a living character, with every detail carrying meaning. The core gameplay loop is split between managing Anton's DVD store in Brooklyn during the day and exploring the city's criminal underworld on contract kills at night.

• The Captain: Playable Protagonist
  A customizable mercenary employed by Pinkwater Security. The player chooses their political origin: Earther, Martian, or Belter.
• Zafar and Michael: Companions
  Two confirmed companions who join the Captain in the field, offering distinct specializations and contributing to dialogue and combat.

• Operations
  Mini-campaigns consisting of multiple missions on a single planet or habitat. The goal is to progress through the operation with permanent consequences for losses.
• Distress Calls
  Optional missions found on the strategic layer. The player's choice to accept or reject them impacts their budget, resources, and faction relationships.

• Main Story Quests
  A cinematic, slow-burn narrative campaign that follows Anton Blackwood as he carries out his contracts and gets pulled deeper into a web of conspiracies, questioning if he is truly in control of his own life.
• DVD Store Management
  A life simulation gameplay loop where players must run Anton's business by buying and selling films, decorating the shop, and interacting with customers.

• Q: What is The Expanse: Osiris Reborn?
  A: It is a third-person action RPG set in The Expanse universe. It is a story-driven, party-based game focusing on tactical real-time combat and political intrigue, developed by Owlcat Games.
• Q: Is it a CRPG like Pathfinder?
  A: No. While developed by Owlcat, it is their first third-person Action RPG (ARPG) with real-time combat, marking a major technical and genre shift for the studio.
• Q: Does it have space combat?
  A: No. Player-controlled large-scale ship battles are excluded. Ship combat is handled through cinematic cutscenes influenced by player choices and ship upgrades.
• Q: Who is consulting on the physics?
  A: Former NASA astronaut and ISS commander Leroy Chiao consulted with the developers to ensure the zero-G and zero-atmosphere combat adheres to scientific realism.

• Q: What is BLACKWOOD?
  A: BLACKWOOD is a single-player, third-person action thriller about a man living a double life as a DVD store owner by day and a professional hitman by night. It is known for its John Wick-inspired combat and deep, cinematic narrative.
• Q: What is the gameplay like?
  A: It is a blend of life simulation and third-person shooting. By day, you manage a DVD store. By night, you engage in fast, stylish, and brutal cover-based gunplay and hand-to-hand combat, with a focus on over 30 contextual takedowns.
• Q: Who is making the game?
  A: The game is being developed and published by AttritoM7 Productions, the studio behind the tactical FPS, Zero Hour.
• Q: When will it be released?
  A: The game is scheduled for release in the third quarter (Q3) of 2026 on PC via Steam.

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As official specs were not provided, these are hypothetical projections for a demanding third-person ARPG built on Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop. The game's required scientific realism (physics, ballistics) and high-fidelity visuals will be demanding.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced graphical features and maintain a stable 60 FPS during zero-G combat.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and complex physics simulation will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of rival squads and the demanding physics of zero-G environments.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a tactical shooter.
• Game Name: The Expanse: Osiris Reborn

• SPECULATIVE PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. As official specs are To Be Determined (TBD), these are hypothetical projections for a next-generation title, likely built on Unreal Engine 5.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop for the best experience. The game's emphasis on cinematic action and fluid animations will require stable performance.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features and maintain high framerates during intense firefights.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich city and effects-heavy combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI and physics-based interactions.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a fast-paced shooter.
• Game Name: BLACKWOOD

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced graphical features and maintain a stable 60 FPS during zero-G combat.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and complex physics simulation will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI of rival squads and the demanding physics of zero-G environments.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a tactical shooter.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU would be essential to handle the advanced graphical features and maintain high framerates during intense firefights.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich city and effects-heavy combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the advanced enemy AI and physics-based interactions.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in a fast-paced shooter.