EXODUS was one of the most interesting game reveals at The Game Awards 2023. It is the debut project of Archetype Entertainment, an Austin-based studio helmed by former BioWare legend James Ohlen (who worked on classics like the first Baldur's Gate games, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Dragon Age: Origins) and owned by Wizards of the Coast. Shortly after its foundation, the studio was joined by another ex BioWare veteran: writer Drew Karpyshyn, known mostly as the lead writer of the acclaimed first two Mass Effect games.
Archetype's goal is to create new franchises outside of Dungeons and Dragons and Magic. EXODUS is just that, an entirely new sci-fi universe with an incredibly deep lore. The developers have already shared a full-fledged timeline that spans 40 thousand years.
In this triple-A action/adventure roleplaying game, players will step into the shoes of a Traveler named Jun, the only one capable of interacting with the technology of the Celestials, a race hellbent on annihilating humankind. As evidenced by the title, the Traveler will roam the stars seeking weapons and technology to be used against the Celestials. The twist is the mechanics called Time Dilation.
As Travelers on interstellar missions, days for you are decades back home. The sacrifices you make to protect your loved ones create unpredictable consequences that change your world -- reshaping the future. Returning home, you confront the consequences of your choices. In Exodus, the outcome of those choices manifests at a massive level, compounding over generations.
Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey will voice a key character, showing that Archetype is sparing no expense in the development of EXODUS. This week, the studio also announced that it has been collaborating with fellow Austin-based studio Certain Affinity on this project since 2022.
James Ohlen, co-founder of Archetype and Executive Creative Director on EXODUS, said in a statement:
This game is introducing an extremely innovative and expansive world. We are creating a new universe that we hope will be the beginning of a decades-long narrative-driven adventure for gamers. I’ve known Max for a long time and was thrilled to partner with Certain Affinity on a project. With his support and the addition of his outstanding team, we’re excited to bring this new AAA Sci-fi universe to life.
Certain Affinity’s founder and CEO Max Hoberman added:
We’re thrilled to be partnering with James, Chad, and the rest of the team at Archetype Entertainment. As one of the world’s premiere independent studios, we’ve worked on a huge variety of great games, but nothing quite like this exciting new Sci-Fi IP, EXODUS. Our mission is to add value in development across the board and to complement their efforts in bringing this amazing storytelling experience to players around the world.
Chad Robertson, co-founder, VP and Executive Producer at Archetype, said:
The value of our experienced teams joining forces adds a clear benefit to the project and ensures that in today’s competitive video game marketplace, EXODUS will be an IP that stands apart in terms of quality, deep engagement, and value for gamers. We have enjoyed working with Certain Affinity and look forward to the unique opportunities that come from a deep partnership like this with such a veteran team.
In other EXODUS news, Random House Worlds will publish two novels by author Peter F. Hamilton set in the universe. The first one, called EXODUS: THE ARCHIMEDES ENGINE, can already be pre-ordered ahead of the launch date of September 17.
The game, on the other hand, will be released for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X. There's no release window yet.
About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.
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