All 7 Companions: Personalities, Exploits & Roles

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn's crew is reported as seven companions — Jay, Zafar, Teo, Regina, Aleesha, Polly, and Michael — each with a role, a personality, and a combat ability called an Exploit. One important caveat up front: the seven-name roster and the Exploit definitions are reported by two outlets, not official announcements — Gamerz Galaxy attributes them to "a preview by PCGamer," while GameCast names no source. Owlcat's own announcements confirm far less, which we flag clearly below.

What's officially confirmed vs what's reported

Owlcat has published 20 Steam announcements for this game, and — as our reviewer verified against the full set — none of them lists a seven-companion roster or defines the four Exploits. The roster and Exploit descriptions below come from two outlets: Gamerz Galaxy attributes them to "a preview by PCGamer," while GameCast names no source, though its account overlaps with Gamerz Galaxy's. Here's the split:

So treat the roster and Exploit assignments as "reported" — the two outlets agree on the names and assignments, but only Gamerz Galaxy ties them to a PCGamer preview, and none of it is confirmed by Owlcat itself.

The reported seven-companion roster

Jay — the protagonist's twin and first mate

Jay is the protagonist's identical twin and the crew's executive officer, described in Gamerz Galaxy's write-up as your "impulsive but loyal right hand." His Exploit is reported as Precision. A naming note: Owlcat's Steam announcements and Gamerz Galaxy both write him as "J" ("your twin J"); this guide uses "Jay" for readability — the same character.

Zafar — the mechanical engineer

Zafar is the crew's mechanical engineer, described as calm and collected. His Exploit is reported as Malfunction. Zafar is also one of the companions Owlcat has described in its own words:

"Take Zafar, for example, an engineer who joins your team early in the game. With no upgrades, he installs a portable turret to hold a position. From there, how the turret evolves is entirely up to you." — Owlcat, Steam announcement, 31 July 2026

Teo — the combat medic who lost his license

Teo is the crew's doctor, described as a "loud and boisterous combat medic who lost his medical license on Earth," who leans on experimental stimulants to boost his combat capability. His Exploit is reported as Malfunction.

Regina — the guarded liaison officer

Regina is the crew's liaison officer, with a guarded personality. Her Exploit is reported as Precision — the Exploit that identifies and shoots vulnerable points in the environment.

Aleesha — the electronic warfare specialist

Aleesha is an electronic warfare specialist who, per Gamerz Galaxy, devotes herself to hard, unsolvable problems to test her own mind. Her Exploit is reported as Cyber Attack, which hacks enemy technology and turns it against the people using it.

Polly — the youngest member of the crew

Polly is the youngest crew member, a Belter teenager. Gamerz Galaxy describes her as youthful, optimistic, and chatty, laying down covering fire with an SMG and using the reported Demolition Exploit. Owlcat's own announcement frames her story:

"For example, Polly, a Belter teenager and youngest member of your crew, is still trying to figure out her place in the universe. She is torn between doing something meaningful for her people and finding a path of her own." — Owlcat, Steam announcement, 18 Aug 2026

Michael — the disillusioned veteran

Michael is the crew's gunner, who joined after serving in the UN military and then in private security before growing disillusioned. Gamerz Galaxy describes him as principled but carrying past tragedies. His Exploit is reported as Demolition.

The four reported Exploits

GameCast describes four Exploits, each tied to a companion's specialization:

Polly's arc: the mentor system (official)

Polly is the companion Owlcat has detailed most. Her development is gradual and player-shaped:

"Your influence over Polly builds gradually through conversations, reactions, and pieces of advice. You may not immediately know which moments she will remember — or how they will shape the person she becomes." — Owlcat, Steam announcement, 18 Aug 2026

The mentor choice is the big one:

"At one point, you will also choose someone from the crew to mentor her. This is not just a dialogue choice. Her mentor can shape the profession she pursues, unlock a unique non-combat skill line, change the role she can play during missions, and even influence her appearance." — Owlcat, Steam announcement, 18 Aug 2026

And the three possible paths:

"Polly may become a cautious hacker, a capable engineer, or pursue a career in medicine. The mentor you choose will shape not only her abilities, but also who she will become." — Owlcat, Steam announcement, 18 Aug 2026

Companion skill trees (official)

Companions grow alongside your captain:

"Building your crew is also part of building your playstyle. Your companions also have skill trees, and their signature gadgets also have their own unique upgrade paths, allowing you to tailor their combat roles to your captain's strengths and weaknesses." — Owlcat, Steam announcement, 31 July 2026

Factions and your crew (official)

The crew's place in the world is shaped by Earth, Mars, and the Belt:

"Earth, Mars, and the Belt each have their own priorities. Helping one side can create problems for another: a decision that benefits Earth's supply lines may seem a threat to Mars, regardless of your intentions." — Owlcat, Steam announcement, 18 Aug 2026

"How you deal with Earth, Mars, and the Belt ultimately affects how their stories unfold, including the fates of important characters. Building a strong relationship with a faction can also open up unique rewards, including exclusive items and a faction-specific quest. Those relationships can even pay off during missions, with factions potentially providing direct support." — Owlcat, Steam announcement, 18 Aug 2026

The archetype system (official)

How you play defines your captain's identity:

"The game does not ask you to select your captain's personality from a list. Instead, the game's archetype system tracks and follows your every choice. Do you keep putting other people first? Chase profit? Defend your faction? Or simply do whatever it takes to keep yourself and your crew alive?" — Owlcat, Steam announcement, 18 Aug 2026

"Over time, those choices begin to define the character you play. Not because you selected an archetype during character creation, but because you consistently acted in a manner consistent with that personality. That identity is reflected in the way certain characters react to you throughout the story and, most importantly, in the epilogues that unveil you and your crew's ultimate destination." — Owlcat, Steam announcement, 18 Aug 2026

What we still don't know

• Whether all seven are recruitable on every playthrough or if any are mutually exclusive (not covered in official announcements or the outlet coverage we read).
• The exact unlock timing for each companion.
• Official confirmation of the roster and Exploit assignments — Owlcat hasn't published them.

FAQ

How many companions are in Osiris Reborn?

Seven are reported — Jay, Zafar, Teo, Regina, Aleesha, Polly, and Michael — by Gamerz Galaxy (which cites a PCGamer preview) and GameCast (which names no source). Owlcat hasn't published an official roster.

What is an Exploit?

A companion combat ability reported by Gamerz Galaxy from a PCGamer preview and by GameCast without a named source. Four are reported: Precision, Demolition, Malfunction, and Cyber Attack — none of which Owlcat has defined in its own announcements.

Can I customize my companions?

Yes — officially. Companions have skill trees and signature-gadget upgrade paths, so you tailor their combat roles to your captain's strengths.

Can companions die?

Companion permadeath is covered in its own guide; the detail there comes from interviews, not Owlcat's Steam announcements.

Related

• Companion Permadeath & Loyalty: Who You Can Lose
• Romance Options: What's Confirmed (and What Isn't)
• Choices & Consequences: Major Branch Points

A note on sourcing

The seven-name roster and the four Exploit descriptions are reported by two outlets, Gamerz Galaxy and GameCast — both of which we read directly. Gamerz Galaxy attributes the material to "a preview by PCGamer"; GameCast does not name a source, so its link to the same preview is an inference, not something its page states. The officially confirmed content (Polly's arc, the mentor system, companion skill trees, factions, and the archetype system) is quoted verbatim from Owlcat's Steam announcements of 31 July and 18 August 2026, transcribed by the content reviewer from the Steam news API. The full quote-by-quote trail is in the evidence file.

Last updated: 2026-11-12. Unofficial fan site — The Expanse is an Alcon/Syfy property.