Finally, a Worthy Mass Effect Successor? Previews Say Yes

90 minutes. That's how long the hands-on demo runs, and it was apparently enough to convince nearly every outlet that covered it: Owlcat Games might have actually cracked the Mass Effect formula. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn entered closed beta today on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam, with a full launch planned for spring 2027.

I've lost count of how many games have been pitched as "the next Mass Effect" over the past decade. Most of them missed the point entirely, confusing BioWare's formula with generic third-person shooting plus dialogue wheels. What makes the early coverage of Osiris Reborn different is that critics aren't just noting surface-level similarities; they're describing the specific cocktail that made Mass Effect work. Over-the-shoulder cover shooting with companion commands you can issue in a tactical pause. Persuasion checks that gate morally grey choices. Dialogue that actually changes how encounters play out across multiple playthroughs. Owlcat, a studio known for dense isometric CRPGs like Pathfinder: Kingmaker and Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader, has made a massive genre leap here, and the early verdict is that the landing looks solid.

Where It Gets Complicated

The praise isn't unconditional. Multiple previews flag floaty shooting mechanics and a fiddly cover system, problems that, as several critics pointed out, plagued the original Mass Effect too. Destructoid's preview noted extensive technical issues including driver crashes and performance problems, though the game is running on Unreal Engine 5 and is still roughly a year from release. GamesRadar described a "7/10 feel" to the experience so far, the kind of game you'd happily play through its estimated 30-hour runtime without it ever blowing your mind. I think that's actually a more useful description than breathless praise would be. A consistently engaging 7 that nails the RPG fundamentals is exactly what this genre has been missing.

There's also the AI question. Owlcat previously confirmed it was using generative AI tools during development, stating that "everything in the final version will definitely 100 percent be human made." Eurogamer's preview acknowledged this planted a nagging concern even as the writer praised the demo's quality. It's a conversation that isn't going away, and Owlcat will need to be more specific about what "human made" means in practice before launch.

The closed beta is available now, but calling it "closed" is generous. You need to purchase either the Collector's Edition or Miller's Pack through the official website to get access, making this closer to a paid Early Access period that runs until the spring 2027 launch. The full game will also release on GOG and Epic Games Store alongside Steam and consoles. Players can choose between a female belter or male earther character in the beta, with a Mars background and full character creation coming in the final release.

What strikes me most about the preview coverage is the consistency. Critics who expected another isometric text-heavy RPG came away surprised by how cinematic and visually polished the game already looks. The lip-syncing drew specific praise, the companion writing landed, and the environmental destruction during combat gave firefights a dynamism that straight cover shooting wouldn't have. Owlcat has a year to tighten the gunplay and squash the technical problems. If it does, this could be the Mass Effect-shaped game people have been waiting over a decade for.