The Expanse: Everything We Know

First, was the six-season Amazon Prime series The Expanse. Then came word at the 2021 Game Awards that a new The Expanse: A Telltale Series was in the works. So when I say, “I can't sit still,” I mean it. Telltale Games intends to release the new title in the summer of 2023. The rumors have it that the new game is much like a space soap opera. And with Telltale Games' DNA we expect it to be a graphic adventure game.

But what else do we know about the new game? Is it the same as the finalized series? Do they have similar stories? If not, what are the specifics of the new story? We've compiled everything we know so far about The Expanse, including gameplay, the story, trailers, and more. So, whenever you're ready, here's a detailed breakdown of The Expanse: Everything We Know.

What is The Expanse?

For those of us who were sad to see the sci-fi franchise, The Expanse, come to an end, we have some good news for you. Oh, and Telltale Games now has a new parent company, LCG Entertainment, which is also good news for fans who were sad to see Telltale Games close shop in 2018.

Okay. So here we go. Telltale Games is hard at work on its newest game series, The Expanse: A Telltale Series. And if the trailer, or other Telltale Games productions like The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, The Batman, and other high-profile adaptations are any indication, gamers are in for a treat.

So what’s this new game exactly? Well, The Expanse: A Telltale Series is a prequel to the TV series, The Expanse. From the looks of it, it seems the game will be an adaptation of the show’s universe and characters, which are in turn based on the characters and ideas from The Expanse novels by James S.A. Corey.

If you’re wondering what “The Expanse” is all about, it’s a story set hundreds of years into the future where humanity exists in space. The galactic societies are developed such that there exist military factions and government systems. Wi that are no less at war with one another.

Story

At the moment, what’s clear is that The Expanse: A Telltale Series will be based on characters and stories from both The Expanse TV series and the novel series by James S.A. Corey. From the trailer, we can already pinpoint some familiar fan-favorite favorites, like Camina Drummer.

However, it’s possible the game will feature an entirely new protagonist and new story. So, although the world may feel similar to The Expanse sci-fi franchise, the goal seems to be creating a fresh feel for the story in a way that fans of The Expanse will appreciate yet still feel like they can influence the outcome of the story.

Gameplay

The trailer doesn’t reveal much about the gameplay except that players will take on the role of fan-favorite Camina Drummer, who’s likely the lead protagonist and one not to mess with. The setting is on the outskirts of the asteroid belt, just like in the series, and it seems a bloody mutiny has broken loose on the Artemis ship.

Space exploration will most likely be featured, with players unraveling different mysteries surrounding the spaceship and its crew. Telltale has also mastered the art of tense decision-making that carries with it life-or-death consequences. It’ll definitely be interesting to see how this plays out, especially when The Expanse: A Telltale Series is set to take place prior to The Expanse series. 

Development

The Expanse: A Telltale Series was announced to be in development at The Game Awards 2021. As surprising as many of the new games announced at The Game Awards were, this one was an exception because of how many believed they’d never hear from TellTale Games.

However, the studio isn’t a stranger to high-profile adaptations, having made their mark with The Walking Dead, a story-based game, along with Game of Thrones, The Batman, and more. Until its sudden demise in 2018, when employees were laid off without notice, Telltale Games was on an uphill climb.

Now, Telltale Games is back on track thanks to its new parent company, LCG Entertainment, and has already begun work on a new game. From the trailer, it’s clear Telltale Games hasn’t lost its touch, so there are definitely high hopes for them making a pretty solid return.

Trailer

Along with the first announcement at The Game Awards 2021, a 1-minute trailer was also released during the same event. There isn’t much to go by from the trailer, which starts off featuring possibly the leader of the Outer Planet Alliance (OPA) on The Expanse TV show. 

The Belter Scavenger ship, the Artemis, is also featured flying near the planet Jupiter. Dead bodies float in outer space with their helmets smashed in. Fan-favorite belter, Camina Drummer, catches a floating bullet in her hand. She walks over to a closed airlock holding a man in distress and hits the airlock button, sending the man into space. From her dialogue, it’s clear this is not a character to be messed with.

At Gamescom 2022 Opening Night Live, a brand new trailer unveiled many more details about the story and gameplay of the upcoming title. It depicts the mechanics of floating through environments as well as the exploration of damaged ship parts in space. The stench of death also suggests possible scavenging scenarios at work.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Although there isn’t an exact release date, it’s estimated that The Expanse: A Telltale Series will release sometime in the summer of 2023. There aren’t any specific platforms we can expect the game to release on. 

However, rumors indicate the new game will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Since there are several Telltale Games currently available on Switch, perhaps The Expanse: A Telltale Series will feature there too? Only time will tell. The editions on offer also remain unclear. You can follow more updates on the official website here.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up a copy of “The Expanse” when it drops? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.