The Spiritual Successor: Mass Effect Has Returned?
It’s no secret that the Mass Effect trilogy was one of the defining experiences on the Xbox 360 at the peak of its lengthy lifecycle. From 2007 to 2012 when the series was at its height, Xbox was the biggest and baddest console on the market. During this same time period was when they released games like Gears of War 2 and Halo 3, titles that still hold their own in the modern gaming landscape.
For many of us, the marriage ended too soon. Mass Effect 3 was one of the most divisive games of its time and Andromeda all but killed the series before it could reach the next plateau. Sure, games like Starfield and No Man’s Sky have tried to mirror the wonder of a space epic, but they have always come up short to what the Mass Effect trilogy conquered in its time. Yet there seems to be a light at the edge of the galaxy glimmering the slightest taste of hope in these dark times.
The New Kid on the Block: A Long Awaited Adaptation
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is a third-person sci-fi action RPG set in the universe of The Expanse, where the tenuous balance of power between Earth, Mars, and the Belt is on the brink of collapse, and trust is a scarce commodity. Now it is time to gather a crew and find your own path through the web of lies to leave your mark on the solar system.
By the 24th century, humanity has conquered the cosmos, but that hasn’t made life any easier. What begins as a brief sojourn on the asteroid Eros reluctantly entangles you in a solar system-wide conspiracy. You will need to adapt to survive and keep your motley crew united in their mission as everything around you begins to fall apart. This is your story. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn offers a truly personal journey that evolves based on the choices you make and the pressures they place on everything you stand for.
You begin as a Pinkwater Security mercenary taking some routine shore leave on Eros Station, when your much-needed rest is abruptly cut short as chaos erupts and an escalating emergency forces the entire station under strict quarantine. Create and customize your own captain — Earther, Martian, or Belter — and take command of the solar system’s most advanced spaceship as you fight to uncover the truth and reclaim control of your own fate.
At the Xbox Partner Preview 2026, we finally got some gameplay footage and it looks to be the perfect modern play on the gameplay systems that made the Mass Effect series so popular. Relying on aspects like positioning and tactical engagements as opposed to raw firepower has always been one of the most iconic systems ever put to gaming. But enough blabbing from me. I’ll let you decide if its up to par with your hopes for the future.
Watch the trailer down below and make sure to let us know what you think in the comments!
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is planned to release in Spring of 2027 for the Xbox Series S/X, PS5 and PC. A paid closed beta will start on April 22nd 2026 for those that have purchased the Collector’s Edition or Miller’s Pack. The Expanse: Osiris Reborn will also be a day-one release on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
