In which video game did David Bowie appear as the character Boz?

David Bowie appeared as the character Boz in the video game “Omikron: The Nomad Soul.”

The game was developed by Quantic Dream and published by Eidos Interactive. It was released for Windows in 1999 and later ported to the Sega Dreamcast in 2000. Outside North America, it is generally titled The Nomad Soul; “Omikron: The Nomad Soul” is the North American title, so both names refer to the same game.

Bowie contributed far more than a cameo. He helped create the soundtrack with guitarist Reeves Gabrels, produced ten original songs and portrayed Boz, a mysterious leader connected with the game’s underground movement. He also appeared as the singer of an in-game band, the Dreamers, performing in venues around Omikron City. Gabrels and bassist Gail Ann Dorsey likewise appeared in the virtual band.

The game’s body-swapping premise made Bowie’s involvement especially fitting: players move their soul between different characters. A common mistake is to identify Bowie’s appearance as a film role or as a character from one of his albums; Boz was created specifically for this science-fiction adventure game.