Companions
Companions are a central part of The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. They fight alongside you in the field, offer commentary on the story, and develop personal arcs that intersect with the main narrative. Up to two companions accompany the player during missions, while the rest of the crew stays aboard the Gemini or leads secondary squads on parallel objectives. The companion system has been directly compared to Mass Effect 2, and for good reason: companions can permanently die depending on player choices.
Known Companions
Companion | Background | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
Jay | The player character's twin sibling. Jay is the first companion to join the crew and remains a constant presence throughout the story. Their personality and dialogue shift depending on the player's origin (Earther, Martian, or Belter), since Jay shares the same background. | Versatile combat support. Jay's kit adapts based on the player's choices, making them a flexible squadmate who can fill gaps in the player's build. |
Zafar | A former MCRN (Martian Congressional Republic Navy) engineer who left military service under circumstances he is reluctant to discuss. Zafar is mechanically inclined and has a dry, understated sense of humor. | Drone specialist. Zafar operates a combat drone that can be directed to attack targets, provide suppressive fire, or project a temporary shield. His skill tree focuses on upgrading the drone's capabilities. |
Michael | A military-trained Earther with a background in UN security forces. Michael is disciplined, direct, and sometimes abrasive. He joined the crew out of pragmatism rather than loyalty. | Frontline soldier. Michael excels at aggressive pushes and holding exposed positions. His abilities focus on personal durability and raw damage output. |
At least six companions are available over the course of the game. The three listed above are the ones Owlcat has publicly revealed. The remaining companions will be encountered as the story progresses, recruited from various locations across the solar system. Each companion has a distinct personality, personal questline, and unique ability set.
Field Deployment
During missions, the player selects two companions to bring into the field. The remaining crew members are not idle; they lead secondary squads or provide support from the Gemini. This means that even companions not in the active party contribute to mission outcomes in certain scenarios.
Choosing the right pair of companions for a mission is a tactical decision. Some missions favor a balanced squad with one ranged specialist and one close-range fighter, while others might benefit from two drone-focused companions who can lock down a large area. The player can swap their active companions between missions but cannot change the lineup mid-mission.
Companion Permadeath
One of the most significant companion mechanics is permadeath. Companions can die permanently based on the player's decisions throughout the game. This is not limited to a single climactic choice at the end. Decisions made hours earlier, including how well the player has maintained their relationships and how they handle critical story moments, determine who lives and who dies.
The developers have explicitly cited Mass Effect 2's suicide mission as an inspiration. In that game, the survival of each squadmate depended on a web of choices made across the entire playthrough: loyalty missions, ship upgrades, and squad assignments during the final mission. Osiris Reborn applies a similar philosophy, where long-term investment in companions (through dialogue, side quests, and mission choices) directly affects their chances of survival.
When a companion dies, they are gone for the rest of the playthrough. Their gear, abilities, and unique dialogue are lost, and the story adjusts to reflect their absence. This gives weight to every major decision and creates meaningful consequences that persist through the rest of the game.
Romance
Romance options are confirmed for Osiris Reborn. Not every companion is romanceable, but for those who are, the romance develops through dialogue choices, time spent together, and personal quest progression. The developers have indicated that romance is not just a side feature; it ties into the broader companion permadeath system. Losing a romanced companion carries additional emotional and narrative weight.
Companion Progression
Companions level up alongside the player. As they gain experience, the player can invest points in each companion's skill tree to unlock new abilities and passive upgrades. Equipment can also be changed, with companions able to use different weapons, armor pieces, and tech devices.
The way a player builds their companions should complement their own character build. A player who focuses on gunplay might want to invest in companions with strong tech abilities to cover their weaknesses. A commander build that buffs companions benefits from investing in each companion's damage output and durability.
Ship Interactions
Between missions, companions are available aboard the Gemini for conversations, side quests, and personal interactions. These moments are where much of the character development happens. Walking around the ship and checking in with each crew member after a major story event reveals new dialogue, personal reactions, and sometimes new quest hooks.
The Gemini functions as a social hub in the same way the Normandy did in Mass Effect or the Ebon Hawk in Knights of the Old Republic. It is the place where the crew feels like a real group of people rather than a collection of combat assets. These quieter moments between missions are where the emotional stakes of the permadeath system are built.