The Expanse Franchise Is Officially Replacing The Rocinante Crew In 2027 Return

While it almost never got its proper conclusion on screen, The Expanse television series was saved by Amazon and brought back by popular demand after being cancelled at Syfy nearly a decade ago. The acclaimed sci-fi series ultimately received three additional seasons, although its conclusion still left much of James S. A. Corey’s sprawling nine-book saga unexplored.

While the show did a great job at building up its political intrigue, getting readers curious about mysterious alien technology, and for its realistic depiction of humanity’s future, it was the unforgettable characters aboard the Rocinante, whose relationships helped make the series a modern science-fiction classic. Led by James Holden alongside Naomi Nagata, Amos Burton, and Alex Kamal, the Rocinante crew and their relationships quickly became the most interesting aspect of the show for many viewers.

Now, The Expanse is preparing for another major comeback, albeit with a significant change that could surprise longtime fans. Rather than returning to the Rocinante and its beloved crew, the upcoming release will introduce an entirely new captain and ship, effectively replacing the franchise’s most recognizable characters with a new generation of beltalowdas.

The Expanse Gets A New Crew In 2027

A woman in The Expanse: Osiris Reborn pointing a pistol at a man holding her shoulder.
A group of three characters standing in a tunnel in The Expanse Osiris Reborn.

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is replacing the Rocinante crew with an entirely new group of characters, putting players in command of their own spaceship in favor of rehashing the adventures of James Holden and company. Developed by Owlcat Games, the upcoming action RPG has players creating their own captain and choosing between Earther, Martian, and Belter backgrounds.

The story begins with a Pinkwater Security mercenary whose shore leave on Eros takes an unfortunate turn, eventually forcing them to take command of an advanced spaceship called the Gemini. Much like Holden’s Rocinante, the Gemini serves as a home base for a diverse crew of specialists, each with their own personalities, motivations, loyalties, etc. Players recruit companions, develop relationships with the crew and NPCs, and make decisions that can strengthen or undermine their crew’s trust.

However, despite taking place alongside the events of the original show, this doesn’t mean Osiris Reborn will be retconning or rewriting anything from the TV series or books. Instead, the game tells a completely separate story unfolding at the same time as the events of the first two novels and roughly during the first two and a half seasons of the show.

That means Holden and the original Rocinante crew are technically still out there, experiencing the same story we’re familiar with while players encounter the consequences of those events from an entirely different perspective. In fact, Owlcat has confirmed that familiar characters and locations will be featured in the game, too, potentially creating opportunities for some interesting crossover moments. Ultimately, Osiris Reborn is expanding the existing universe and giving returning fans some fresh perspective.

Osiris Reborn Is An Exciting New Chapter In The Expanse Saga

Probably the most exciting part of The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is that it could be the beginning of an entirely new era for the franchise, particularly when it comes to video games. Although 2023’s The Expanse: A Telltale Series explored Camina Drummer’s adventures before the television series, Osiris Reborn is a much more ambitious attempt to adapt the franchise into a full-fledged action RPG with its own unique take on the story that coincides with the show/books.

More importantly, if it does well, it could potentially open the door to additional games, allowing developers to explore different eras, characters, and even corners of James S. A. Corey’s sprawling science-fiction universe that remain untapped.

There’s also reason to believe Osiris Reborn itself could continue expanding after its initial release. Owlcat Games has a history of supporting its games with major post-launch expansions, particularly Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous.

In a June 2026 interview with GamingBolt, game design director Leonid Rastorguev confirmed that Owlcat had already discussed potential post-launch content, including possible new formats. However, he stressed that nothing had been finalized, with additional details expected closer to release. For now, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn is scheduled to launch in spring 2027 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, with day-one availability through Xbox Game Pass.