Archetype Entertainment finally revealed its new sci-fi RPG during The Game Awards, which it has been developing under the auspices of Wizards of the Coast since at least 2020. And to announce the new game and trailer, actor Matthew McConaughey appeared on stage at The Game Awards to reveal that he will be voicing a character in the upcoming RPG.
Titled Exodus, it will focus on the butterfly effect that choices can have over years and even decades, which will be depicted via time dilation. The trailer shown during The Game Awards introduced the new game’s world along with its basic premise, which looks to cast players as a Traveler jetting around the universe while trying to avoid enemies known as Celestials.
Exodus is being pitched as a “next-generation, story-driven RPG that marries cinematic storytelling with deep emotional impact featuring broad player agency and modern AAA gameplay.” It broadly resembles Mass Effect, only a much larger scale, which is made all the more intriguing given that its development is being led by the director of the original Knights of the Old Republic and numerous BioWare veterans.
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“Exodus introduces an innovative new sci-fi world that forces players to face the consequences of their choices over time,” said Archetype Entertainment co-founder James Ohlen. “We introduce the player, as the Traveler, to an original sci-fi universe, a world created with an incredible level of detail in collaboration with award-winning sci-fi authors.”
The gameplay setting and story we created is built around the impact of time dilation, a concept I’ve been fascinated with since I was 12 years-old. We use Time Dilation as a catalyst impacting the choices you make in-game that sets in motion events affecting your relationships with your loved ones, and your entire civilization, for generations.”
Here’s the official story description:
In Exodus, humanity has fled a dying Earth, finding a new home in a hostile galaxy – here, we are the underdogs fighting for survival. As The Traveler, you are humanity’s last hope. Your job is to steal alien weapons and technology from the most powerful beings in the universe, the Celestials – humanity’s greatest enemy. But there’s a catch — 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.
Archetype didn’t reveal a release date, but did confirm that it’s under development for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For more, check out everything revealed at The Game Awards so far and our roundup of every winner for each category.
Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.