Exodus, the highly anticipated spacefaring role-playing game drawing comparisons to BioWare's Mass Effect series, is set to launch on April 7, 2027. Developer Archetype Entertainment confirmed the release date during gamescom's Opening Night Live, announcing that the game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. Accompanying the announcement was a new cinematic trailer that introduced additional characters and provided a glimpse into the gameplay.
The trailer highlighted Salt, an 'Awakened' character who is a hyper-intelligent octopus capable of piloting a mech suit. The Awakened are described as exceptionally intelligent animals and wildlife within the game's universe, able to communicate with humans. Salt will serve as a long-range sniper in the player's party, utilizing an ink smokescreen ability to provide tactical cover during combat. The narrative appears to delve into significant story elements, with Salt's confrontational demeanor driven by a deep-seated desire to protect her species and homeworld, adding emotional weight to her interactions with the main character, Jun.
A central narrative hook for Exodus is its exploration of scientific time dilation and its impact on the story. As is typical for the RPG genre, player choices will significantly influence outcomes. Players will guide Jun, a Traveler, on an interstellar journey to find a new home for humanity, which was forced to flee Earth.
Exodus is being developed under veteran narrative director Drew Karpyshyn, who previously held significant writing roles on critically acclaimed BioWare titles such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and the Mass Effect series. The game was initially revealed at The Game Awards 2023, notable for featuring actor Matthew McConaughey. A more extensive 20-minute gameplay reveal in June showcased the action RPG combat, which strongly echoes Mass Effect's shooting mechanics and party member command systems, alongside a similar sci-fi aesthetic. Archetype Entertainment has been a part of Wizards of the Coast since 2020, and players will soon be able to experience their work firsthand.