Owlcat Games Hits 600 Staff, Commits to Hardcore RPGs While Developing Mass Effect-Style Sci-Fi

Celebrating its tenth anniversary, independent developer Owlcat Games is undergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history. Having built an enviable reputation among computer role-playing game (CRPG) enthusiasts through dense systems and sprawling narratives, the studio is now scaling up its operations to tackle two major projects at once. However, as the team expands its scope to embrace cinematic action-RPGs, studio leadership is reassuring core fans that it has no intention of abandoning the complex turn-based and real-time-with-pause mechanics that defined its rise.

Quick summary

• Owlcat Games co-founder Alexander Mishulin confirmed the studio remains fully committed to deep isometric CRPGs while diversifying into action-RPG territories.
• The studio has expanded to roughly 600 employees worldwide, putting its headcount on par with major industry heavyweights like Larian Studios and CD Projekt Red's main Warsaw team.
• Owlcat is simultaneously developing two ambitious titles: cinematic sci-fi action-RPG The Expanse: Osiris Reborn and isometric investigative RPG Warhammer 40K: Dark Heresy.

Why it matters

In an era marked by widespread video game industry downsizing, budget cuts, and studio closures, Owlcat’s massive expansion represents a rare success story for mid-sized RPG developers. By scaling up to 600 personnel, the developer gains the bandwidth necessary to operate a multi-project pipeline similar to BioWare's golden age during the 2000s and 2010s. For players, this structural evolution means higher production values and broader stylistic variety without forfeiting the intricate rule systems, heavy choice reactivity, and deep mechanics that traditional CRPG fans demand.

Background

Owlcat Games was originally founded in Moscow a decade ago and established its brand identity with two massive adaptations of Paizo's tabletop system: Pathfinder: Kingmaker (2018) and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (2021). Both titles earned acclaim for their faithful interpretation of tabletop rules and ambitious management mechanics, despite initial technical hurdles at release. Following its relocation to Paphos, Cyprus, the studio released Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader in late 2023, proving its custom RPG engine could adapt seamlessly to Games Workshop's dark grimdark universe.

Over the past decade, Owlcat's signature design philosophy relied on pairing deep tactical combat with overarching domain management—placing players in the boots of a baron, a crusade commander, or a Rogue Trader dynasty leader. The studio's growth from a modest team to a global developer of 600 staff across multiple European offices reflects the commercial success of those deep tabletop adaptations.

Expanding into New Frontiers: The Expanse and Mass Effect Comparisons

The announcement of The Expanse: Osiris Reborn marks Owlcat's most radical stylistic leap to date. Shifting away from isometric camera angles and heavy text boxes, the project adopts a third-person cinematic presentation that industry observers frequently compare to BioWare’s iconic Mass Effect trilogy. Based on the acclaimed sci-fi franchise, the game requires structural changes in character design, motion capture, audio production, and narrative presentation.

Speaking in a tenth-anniversary interview with PCGamesN, Owlcat co-founder and creative director Alexander Mishulin addressed fan concerns regarding this pivot. "We will continue to make CRPGs because we love them," Mishulin stated, emphasizing that exploring different genres prevents creative stagnation. "We do not want to become stagnant. We will be trying different approaches for our RPG games, trying to find the best possible fit for the idea of the game."

Mishulin explained that the core philosophy of the studio remains focused on player agency and immersive roleplay, regardless of whether a game uses tactical cameras or over-the-shoulder action mechanics. The goal is to craft games that the developers themselves enjoy playing while pushing internal technical standards forward.

Doubling Down on Hardcore CRPGs with Dark Heresy

To demonstrate that isometric RPGs remain a core pillar of its identity, Owlcat is simultaneously developing Warhammer 40K: Dark Heresy. Building directly upon the technical foundation and underlying systems refined during the development of Rogue Trader, the new project represents a structural evolution akin to the leap between Kingmaker and Wrath of the Righteous.

Instead of repeating the ruler-management fantasies of past titles, Dark Heresy pivots toward a detective and investigative structure. Players will take on the role of an Inquisitorial agent navigating hive cities and political conspiracies. This metagame focuses on clue collection, interrogation, local faction dynamics, and reactive storytelling, offering a distinct rhythm from the grand territorial management seen in previous releases.

Comparing RPG Studio Staffing Across the Games Industry

Owlcat's reported workforce of approximately 600 employees redefines its standing within the international gaming ecosystem, placing it directly alongside traditional AAA role-playing game studios:

• Owlcat Games: Approximately 600 employees working on two major parallel projects.
• Larian Studios: Over 500 staff worldwide following the runaway success of Baldur's Gate 3.
• CD Projekt Red: Roughly 1,134 employees worldwide, with its central Warsaw studio accounting for around 615 staff according to recent financial filings.
• Obsidian Entertainment: Currently sitting in the low 200s following workforce adjustments under Xbox Game Studios.
• BioWare: Significantly reduced headcount, estimated at 100 or fewer employees following restructuring after Dragon Age: The Veilguard, down from 500-600 across its former Edmonton, Montreal, and Austin facilities.

This comparative scale highlights how independent and mid-tier RPG specialists have grown to fill the void left by legacy western RPG giants who have downsized or extended development cycles.

Qnews24h insight

Owlcat's decision to maintain a 600-person workforce across two simultaneous RPG projects is a bold calculated gamble in today's volatile gaming landscape. Maintaining a studio of this scale requires substantial recurring revenue, which places elevated financial expectations on both The Expanse: Osiris Reborn and Warhammer 40K: Dark Heresy. However, by establishing two parallel pipelines—one focused on accessible cinematic action and the other on deep systems-driven tactical gameplay—Owlcat minimizes risk. If executed successfully, the studio could replicate BioWare's late-2000s dual-franchise strategy, catering simultaneously to mainstream narrative fans and hardcore CRPG purists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Owlcat Games abandoning isometric RPGs?

No. Studio co-founder Alexander Mishulin explicitly confirmed that isometric CRPGs remain a core priority for Owlcat. The studio is currently developing Warhammer 40K: Dark Heresy alongside its new action-RPG project.

How many employees does Owlcat Games have?

Owlcat currently employs roughly 600 people across its headquarters in Paphos, Cyprus, and various international branch offices.

What games is Owlcat currently working on?

Owlcat has two main titles in active development: The Expanse: Osiris Reborn (a cinematic action-RPG) and Warhammer 40K: Dark Heresy (an isometric investigative CRPG).

Sources

• PC Gamer report by Ted Litchfield: "Owlcat co-founder says the studio won't turn its back on hardcore RPGs as it hits 600 employees and preps its own Mass Effect killer"
• PCGamesN 10th anniversary interview with Alexander Mishulin
• Wccftech industry headcount reporting