There is something wonderfully nostalgic about the idea of Orbitals. A sci-fi adventure wrapped in the visual language of retro anime, filled with synth-driven music, strange machinery, and a world that feels lifted from an overlooked 1980s or 1990s spacefaring classic. The Orbitals: Deluxe Upgrade Pack fully understands that appeal. Rather than attempting to bolt on another chunk of gameplay, Studio Saizensen and Kepler Interactive have put together a collection aimed squarely at those who have already fallen for the game’s distinctive aesthetic and want to spend a little more time with it.
That makes this a slightly unusual piece of DLC. There are no new missions to complete, no additional enemies to fight, and no fresh story chapter beyond the Storm Wall. Instead, the package gives fans a digital artbook, the original soundtrack, alternative costumes for Maki and Omura, and two new ship skins. It is essentially a celebration of the world that already exists, and whether that is worth the asking price will depend heavily on how much Orbitals has managed to get under your skin.
A Love Letter to Orbitals
The first thing to understand about the Deluxe Upgrade Pack is that it is very much a companion piece. It is content designed for fans rather than something intended to dramatically expand the original game. That distinction is important, because it would be unfair to judge it against a conventional expansion that introduces new gameplay, areas or narrative content. Instead, the pack succeeds or fails on the quality of its presentation and how well it complements the atmosphere of the base game.
Thankfully, there is a genuine sense of affection running through the package. The retro-anime-inspired artwork is particularly well suited to Orbitals, giving players the opportunity to look beyond the finished game and appreciate the visual thinking that helped shape its universe. Concept art can sometimes feel like little more than filler in a digital deluxe edition, but when a game has such a clearly defined visual identity, seeing the sketches, character designs and environmental ideas behind that identity can be surprisingly rewarding.
A Digital Artbook With Character
The digital artbook is arguably the most interesting addition here. Accessible directly from the base game’s main menu, it cuts out the usual faff that comes with digital extras and lets you jump straight into the gallery whenever you fancy taking a closer look. The presentation is designed for both television screens and handheld displays, with high-resolution artwork, responsive zoom, and page-turning that makes the whole thing feel like a proper companion rather than an afterthought.
It is the retro anime influence that gives the gallery its personality. The character sketches and environmental illustrations capture that wonderfully exaggerated science-fiction aesthetic that once made futuristic worlds feel both mysterious and optimistic. There is a tactile quality to this kind of artwork that modern games sometimes lose when everything is rendered in increasingly realistic detail. Seeing the ideas behind Orbitals in a more traditional illustrative form helps underline how much of its charm comes from style rather than spectacle.
For anyone who enjoys looking at concept art after finishing a game, there is plenty here to appreciate. You can spend a few minutes flicking through the pages or settle down to examine the details. It will not transform your opinion of the game, but it adds context to the world and gives the creative work behind Orbitals a chance to breathe.
Let the Music Take You Back
The original soundtrack is another welcome inclusion, particularly because music appears to be such an important part of Orbitals’ identity. The Deluxe Upgrade Pack allows the full score to be accessed through the game’s media hub, so you do not need to rely on external software or hunt online for individual tracks. It is a simple addition, but one that feels particularly appropriate for a game so heavily influenced by the sound and atmosphere of classic science fiction.
The synth-driven compositions fit the setting beautifully. A blend of electronic melodies, bass-heavy passages and ambient space soundscapes gives the soundtrack a personality of its own. Rather than simply functioning as background noise, the music helps establish the mood of exploration, making the soundtrack an important part of what gives Orbitals its identity.
Being able to revisit those tracks outside the action is also one of those little luxuries that fans tend to appreciate more than they expect. There is something satisfying about finishing a game and then returning to its soundtrack simply because a particular piece stuck in your head. The fact that everything is integrated into the base game’s menu makes the experience feel cohesive rather than like a collection of unrelated digital bonuses.
Maki and Omura Get a New Look
The two exclusive character costumes are considerably more straightforward. Maki and Omura each receive an alternative outfit, allowing players to give the protagonists a different look during exploration and cutscenes. There is no gameplay advantage attached to them, and that is exactly how cosmetic additions should work. They exist to provide another visual option without interfering with balance or progression.
Whether you will actually use them comes down to personal taste. Some players will happily stick with the original designs because they feel most closely connected to the game’s story, while others will enjoy having something different to wear on another playthrough. Either way, the costumes fit comfortably within the retro-futuristic character design that makes Orbitals stand out.
The important thing is that they do not feel like completely disconnected additions. They are designed as alternatives for characters players already know, rather than bizarre promotional outfits that undermine the setting. For a cosmetic extra, that is probably the best approach.
Two New Ships for the Journey
The two exclusive ship skins are perhaps the most immediately noticeable additions during play. Your vessel carries you through the dangerous environments beyond the Storm Wall, so giving it a fresh exterior can make repeated journeys feel slightly different. Again, these are purely cosmetic, but they suit a game where visual presentation plays such a significant role.
There is something fitting about customising the ship in a game built around travelling through hostile air currents and atmospheric sci-fi environments. Even without changing how the vessel handles, a new exterior can make it feel like your own little craft. The two designs offer a modest amount of choice without turning customisation into a system that needs its own progression tree.
It is not revolutionary, of course, but it does exactly what a ship skin needs to do. It gives returning players another reason to experiment with how their journey looks without pretending that a cosmetic option is somehow a major gameplay feature.
Everything in One Place
One of the strongest aspects of the Deluxe Upgrade Pack is how seamlessly everything is integrated. Both the artbook and soundtrack are accessible from the base game’s main menu, so the additional content never feels detached from Orbitals. There is no separate application to launch, no awkward external viewer, and no complicated process for finding the material you have paid for.
That convenience matters more than it might sound. Digital artbooks and soundtracks often become forgotten bonuses buried somewhere on a hard drive, especially when accessing them requires leaving the game entirely. Here, they become part of the overall package and can be revisited whenever the mood takes you. It makes the Deluxe Upgrade Pack feel less like a pile of downloadable extras and more like a small museum dedicated to the game.
Made for the Fans
Ultimately, this is DLC for people who already like Orbitals. That is both its greatest strength and its biggest limitation. If you are looking for more story, new mechanics, or a substantial extension to the adventure, there is nothing here to provide it. The Deluxe Upgrade Pack is not interested in changing the game. It is interested in giving its existing world a little more room to breathe.
For fans of retro-anime-inspired science fiction, that can be enough. The artbook is thoughtfully presented, the soundtrack suits the game’s atmosphere, and the costumes and ship skins provide welcome visual variety. None of these additions are essential, but taken together they create a package that feels carefully curated rather than hastily assembled.
There is also something refreshing about a DLC pack that knows exactly what it is. Not every expansion needs to introduce ten hours of new missions or another enormous map. Sometimes players simply want to see the artwork, listen to the music, and enjoy a few new cosmetic options from a world they have grown attached to. Orbitals: Deluxe Upgrade Pack understands that perfectly.
A Small but Likeable Extra
The Orbitals: Deluxe Upgrade Pack will not radically change your experience, and it does not set out to. Instead, it adds a little more personality to an already distinctive science fiction adventure, giving fans a chance to explore its creative side while adding visual customisation to their next trip beyond the Storm Wall.
The digital artbook is the star of the show, particularly for anyone who enjoys retro anime artwork and concept design. The soundtrack is a strong companion piece, while the character costumes and ship skins provide just enough extra customisation to make another journey feel slightly fresher. It is modest DLC, certainly, but there is a difference between modest and meaningless.
For newcomers, I would recommend experiencing the base game before deciding whether this upgrade is for you. For existing fans who love the atmosphere and want to own a more complete collection of Orbitals’ artwork, music and cosmetics, there is considerably more to like here. It feels less like an expansion and more like a lovingly assembled bonus package, which is exactly what it should be.
Final Verdict
Orbitals: Deluxe Upgrade Pack is a charming extra for players who appreciate the game’s artistry as much as the game itself. The digital artbook lets the retro-anime-inspired visual style shine, while the original soundtrack preserves the atmospheric electronic identity that makes the world feel so distinctive. Add the alternative costumes for Maki and Omura and two exclusive ship skins, and you have a neat little collection of extras that rewards dedicated fans without disrupting the base experience.
It is worth remembering that there is no new story or gameplay here. That will inevitably limit its appeal, particularly for players who expect substantial expansions from their DLC. For those already invested in Orbitals, however, the Deluxe Upgrade Pack feels like a pleasant opportunity to linger a little longer in its universe.
