Owlcat Games has revealed it employs generative AI during development of its sci-fi RPG The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, but only for prototyping and placeholders that will be replaced by human work. The studio also announced a spring 2027 release, a closed beta starting April 22, and day-one availability on Game Pass Ultimate.
Owlcat Games, the Cyprus-based developer behind Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous, and Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader, addressed its use of generative AI in a press briefing on March 26. PR manager Katharina Popp stated, 'We don't use it to create any assets that will be in the game. We use it a lot for prototyping, trying things out, placeholders. They will all be replaced at the end.' She added that AI helps iterate faster on technical aspects, such as converting 2D images to 3D or adjusting colors, but the studio avoids it for writing or voice acting, ensuring the final version is '100 percent human made.' This follows a 2024 controversy over a job ad mentioning AI for concept generation, where Owlcat clarified it would be limited to inspiration and early processes, with all final art by professional artists. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn draws inspiration from Mass Effect, featuring cover-based squad combat, dialogue choices, romance, and RPG upgrades, but emphasizes grounded sci-fi based on the book series and Syfy TV show. The game, built in Unreal Engine as a third-person action RPG, will launch in spring 2027 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X. A closed beta demo begins April 22 for buyers of the $289 Collector's Edition or $80 Miller's Pack, covering the second mission on Eros with background and class choices. Design director Leonid Rastorguev explained the beta's purpose: 'We still want to check how the game will be received by the players - see feedback - and we still have time to iterate some systems based on feedback.' Game design producer Yuliya Chernenko noted Owlcat's history of similar tests for player input. The studio employs 200 people on this project and 60-70 on Warhammer 40K: Dark Heresy.
