The Expanse: Osiris Reborn vs Loulan: The Cursed Sand

• 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.

• 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.

• Lore Items: Found through exploration of the ruins, these items will provide context on the lost Kingdom of Loulan and the 'Xiaohe Princess'.
• Sand Abilities: Likely unlocked by defeating bosses or solving puzzles, these are new skills for use in combat and exploration.

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

• Action RPG
• Chinese Mythology
• Top-Down
• Hack and Slash
• Fantasy
• Romance

• 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.

• 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 core of the progression system is the 'Cursed Warrior of Dual Forms' mechanic. Players can freely switch between a balanced 'Sand Form' and a relentless, heavy-hitting 'Bone Form,' which wields a massive sand blade. This system unlocks different combat capabilities and is also used for puzzle-solving. Players also wield a variety of 'Sand Abilities'.

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 is not a full open world, but features large, handcrafted, and atmospheric levels set in diverse regions. Players will journey through vast deserts, ruins, and flowing rivers of sand, reimagining the iconic landscapes of China's Western Regions.

• 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.

• The Cursed Sand: Playable Protagonist
  A skeletal warrior and resurrected royal guard on a quest to find his lost princess. He can switch between a balanced 'Sand Form' and a powerful 'Bone Form'.
• The Lost Princess of Loulan: Key NPC
  The object of the protagonist's quest and the heart of the game's tragic love story.

• 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 Campaign
  A linear, narrative-driven campaign following 'The Cursed Sand' on his tragic quest to find the lost Princess of Loulan, battling powerful factions and colossal bosses along the way.
• Environmental Puzzles
  A recurring objective where players must use their unique 'Sand Abilities' to manipulate the environment, solve puzzles, and open new pathways.

• 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 Loulan: The Cursed Sand?
  A: It is a single-player action RPG from the developers of Naraka Bladepoint and Diablo Immortal. It is set in a world based on the ancient Silk Road and Korean/Chinese mythology, featuring a unique dual-form combat system.
• Q: What is the combat like?
  A: It's a fast-paced, top-down 'one-against-many' melee combat system inspired by the classic God of War games. The core mechanic is switching between a balanced 'Sand Form' and a heavy-hitting 'Bone Form'.
• Q: Is it a 'Soulslike' game?
  A: While it features challenging, skill-based boss fights, its core combat is described as being closer to a classic, fast-paced action game like God of War or an arcade slasher, rather than the methodical pace of a Soulslike.
• Q: When will it be released?
  A: No official release date has been announced yet, but it is in development for PC and as a PlayStation 5 console exclusive.

• 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

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS are To Be Determined (TBD). The game is being developed on Unreal Engine 5, so modern hardware is expected to be required. The following are hypothetical projections.
• Laptop Performance Note: A title like this would demand a high-performance gaming laptop for the best experience. The game's fast-paced combat and detailed environments 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 of Unreal Engine 5 and the effects-heavy combat.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and 'one-versus-many' enemy encounters 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 and physics-based combat.
• 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 action game.
• Game Name: Loulan: The Cursed Sand

• 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 of Unreal Engine 5 and the effects-heavy combat.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and 'one-versus-many' enemy encounters 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 and physics-based combat.
• 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 action game.