Revision 2

Overview

The closed beta for The Expanse: Osiris Reborn begins on April 22, 2026, giving eligible players their first hands-on opportunity to experience the game ahead of its full release. Unlike a limited weekend test, this beta runs continuously from its launch date all the way through to the game's planned release in Spring 2027. The beta is available on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, covering every platform the full game will ship on.

Access to the closed beta is not free. Players must purchase either the Miller's Pack ($79.99) or the Collector's Edition ($289) from the official Owlcat Games website at osirisreborn.owlcat.games. These two editions are exclusive to the Owlcat store and cannot be purchased through Steam, the Epic Games Store, GOG, or any console storefront. The Standard and Deluxe editions do not include beta access.

How to Access

The closed beta is restricted to players who own one of the two premium editions that include beta access. Both editions must be purchased directly from the official Owlcat Games website. No other storefronts carry these editions. Once purchased, players receive instructions for downloading and installing the beta client on their chosen platform.

The following table shows which pre-order editions include beta access:

The Miller's Pack and Collector's Edition are only available through the official Owlcat Games website (osirisreborn.owlcat.games). They are not sold on Steam, the Epic Games Store, GOG, the PlayStation Store, or the Microsoft Store.

Beta Content

The closed beta includes a full mission from the beginning of the game. Players start on Pinkwater Station (Pinkwater 4), a remote space station that serves as the opening location. During this mission, players meet some of the station's residents, including Zafar, a character who later joins the player's crew as a companion. The mission builds toward a confrontation with a powerful enemy, including a Project Caliban subject, and culminates with the player earning the title of captain.

The beta showcases several of the game's core systems. Players experience combat firsthand, including gunfights against hostile forces on the station. Movement in zero-gravity environments is featured prominently, requiring players to adapt to the physics of operating in microgravity. The mission also introduces themes of life and death that are central to the broader narrative, setting the tone for the full game.

Character Creation in the Beta

The beta allows players to create their captain using the game's character creation system. Players select an origin for their character, choosing from three backgrounds that reflect the political and cultural divisions of The Expanse universe. Origin choice affects early story reactions, dialogue options, and certain skill affinities, though later in the game your actions begin to matter more than where you came from.

In addition to origin, players choose from different pre-set starting builds that determine their initial combination of skills and abilities. Two pre-sets were available in earlier demos: one focused on Officer abilities (tactical leadership and squad coordination) and one focused on Hacker abilities (cyber-warfare and electronic systems). Players are not locked into these starting builds and can freely shape their character as they progress.

Character creation also generates a twin sibling named J, who shares the player's chosen origin and gender but has a distinct hairstyle, personality, and set of traits. J serves as the first companion and joins the player during the opening mission on Pinkwater Station.

Available Weapons

The beta provides access to a selection of weapon types that cover a range of combat styles. Players can experiment with different loadouts to find what suits their preferred playstyle.

Gadgets and Abilities

Beyond conventional firearms, the beta provides access to several gadgets that unlock different tactical abilities. These gadgets add variety to encounters and are particularly useful in the zero-gravity segments of the mission.

The Exploit System in the Beta

The beta introduces the Exploit system, a companion-driven combat mechanic that makes crew members more involved in battle. Exploits are special abilities that companions can activate during combat to turn the tide of an engagement. Under the right conditions, a well-timed Exploit can eliminate an entire group of enemies in a single coordinated strike.

Each companion has unique Exploit capabilities tied to their specialization. Examples of Exploits revealed so far include:

During the beta mission, two companions can accompany the player into the field, while other crew members support from a distance by disabling systems or drawing enemy attention. Zafar, the first companion encountered on Pinkwater Station, plays an important role during the beta mission and can provide fire support when possible.

Combat Mechanics

The beta showcases the game's third-person cover-based combat system. Players use environmental objects as cover to avoid enemy fire, but cover is not permanent. Some cover objects can be destroyed, and enemies will not hesitate to flush players out with grenades. Staying in one position for too long is punished, encouraging players to move between cover points and reposition during firefights.

The combat system uses real-time companion commands, allowing players to direct their squad members during engagements. Players can combine their own weapon fire with companion abilities and gadgets for a layered tactical approach. The mission on Pinkwater Station features multiple combat encounters against hostile forces, putting all of these systems to the test.

Choices and Consequences in the Beta

Even within the beta's single mission, players encounter meaningful decisions that demonstrate the game's branching narrative design. Each mission in The Expanse: Osiris Reborn presents choices that can carry large, long-lasting consequences, and the beta mission is no exception. Decisions made during the Pinkwater Station mission can affect NPC survival and the trajectory of relationships with characters the player meets.

These choices serve as a preview of the broader story and setting systems that will shape the full game. The consequences of player decisions extend beyond immediate outcomes, influencing how companions and NPCs perceive the player captain going forward.

Platforms

The closed beta is available on all three platforms that the full game will launch on. Players who purchase an eligible edition can choose which platform to play on.

Feedback and Bug Reporting

Owlcat Games has emphasized that player feedback during the beta period is critically important for polishing the game's systems before the full launch. Design Director Leonid Rastorguev and Producer Yulia Chernenko stated at a press briefing that feedback from beta participants will be incorporated into the final product.

The beta client includes a built-in reporting tool that allows players to flag bugs directly during gameplay, including during cutscenes and combat encounters. In addition to this in-game tool, Owlcat maintains official Discord and Reddit channels where players can discuss their experiences, analyze game mechanics in detail, and submit more thorough feedback.

Because the beta runs continuously for approximately one year (from April 2026 through Spring 2027), the development team has an extended window to iterate on systems, fix reported issues, and make adjustments based on community input.

Timeline

The closed beta is not a limited-time event. It begins on April 22, 2026 and continues running without interruption until the full game launches in Spring 2027. This extended testing period allows the development team to gather ongoing feedback and iterate on the game's systems while giving players early access to content as it matures.

Because the beta runs for approximately one year, players who join early will have ample time to explore the opening mission content, test different weapon configurations, and provide feedback that shapes the final product.

System Requirements (Beta)

The following system requirements apply to the PC (Steam) version of the closed beta. These specs may change before the full release, as the beta build is still a work in progress.

For console players, Owlcat recommends playing the beta on Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 for the smoothest experience. Performance may vary depending on hardware, and the beta build does not reflect the final quality of the game.

Important Notes

• Work in Progress: The beta build is a work in progress and does not reflect the final state of the game. Players should expect unfinished performance and polish in certain areas.

• Sound Design: The game's sound design incorporates authentic space mechanics developed in collaboration with former NASA pilot Leroy Chiao. In zero-gravity combat segments, sound is muffled and replaced with vibration feedback, simulating the vacuum of space.

• Magnetic Boots: Instead of tethers, characters use magnetic boots for locomotion in zero-g environments, a detail informed by the NASA consultation.

• Day One Game Pass: While the beta requires purchasing the Miller's Pack or Collector's Edition, the full game will be available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from day one when it launches in Spring 2027.

• Xbox Play Anywhere: The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is an Xbox Play Anywhere title, meaning a single purchase covers both Xbox and PC (Microsoft Store) versions at full launch.