The Expanse Is Officially Replacing Its Main Character In New Release

Published Oct 1, 2026, 2:30 AM EDT

Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond. 

The Expanse has thankfully survived the kind of turbulent history that would have ended most science-fiction series. Originally airing on Syfy, the show was canceled after three seasons in 2018 before a passionate fan campaign helped secure its revival at Amazon Prime Video, where it continued for another three seasons and ultimately concluded in 2022. That second life only reinforced the strength of the world James S.A. Corey first created on the page.

Central to that success was the crew of the Rocinante. James Holden, Naomi Nagata, Amos Burton, and Alex Kamal were brought to live action with much of the personality, complicated history, and interpersonal chemistry that defined their literary counterparts, even as the television adaptation made some inevitable changes along the way.

Now, however, The Expanse is preparing to return once again, and its next major release will make a particularly bold change by replacing the familiar Rocinante crew with an entirely new group of characters.

The Expanse Will Replace The Rocinante Crew With A New One

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn will effectively replace the Rocinante crew and its lead character as the franchise's central team, putting players in charge of an entirely new group instead of James Holden, Naomi Nagata, Amos Burton, and the other familiar faces who drove the books and television series. Owlcat's RPG tells an original story running alongside events from the early part of The Expanse, but its focus is firmly on characters created specifically for the game.

Players create their own captain, choosing an Earther, Martian, or Belter background before taking command of the Gemini, rather than the Rocinante. The most important new crew member is J, the captain's identical twin and executive officer, whose appearance and origin change alongside the player's character. J functions as the captain's right hand but can also disagree with the player's decisions and pursue a path of their own.

The wider crew includes Zafar, who eventually serves as the Gemini's mechanic; Regina, a well-connected sharpshooter; Teo, the ship's medic; and Michael, another experienced mercenary. Owlcat has also confirmed that these characters represent only part of the eventual crew. Companions will accompany the captain into combat, provide support from the Gemini, and react to choices in ways that can strengthen or damage their relationships with the player.

Importantly, this does not mean Holden and company have been written out. Osiris Reborn takes place during the same period as their early adventures, and Owlcat has teased encounters with returning faces and their original voices. Instead, the game gives The Expanse a second crew to follow, allowing the universe to expand beyond the Rocinante without rewriting the characters who made the franchise famous.

Osiris Reborn Arrives In 2027, With Closed Beta Live Now

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is currently scheduled to launch in spring 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, with the game also confirmed for Xbox Game Pass on day one. Owlcat has not announced a more specific release date yet, leaving its exact arrival somewhere within that broader 2027 window.

Fans do not necessarily have to wait until then to get their first taste of the new crew, however. Osiris Reborn's closed beta is already live, giving eligible Founders access to an early mission lasting roughly one to two hours. The build includes four preset versions of the player character, the captain's twin J as a combat companion, eight firearms, nine abilities, and an appearance from Zafar, who later becomes part of the Gemini's crew.

It also includes dialogue, exploration, combat, and at least one consequential decision designed to showcase the choice-driven structure Owlcat is building around the full RPG. Access is currently restricted to players who own either the Miller's Pack or Collector's Edition Founder package, with beta keys available for Steam, Xbox, or PS5.

For a franchise that has already survived cancellation once, Osiris Reborn represents another significant new beginning. The Rocinante crew may no longer be at the center of the story, but Owlcat is attempting to prove that The Expanse can continue expanding around an entirely new group of characters without abandoning the universe that made the original crew so memorable.

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn

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