As a sci-fi RPG coming from ex-BioWare devs, it’s no surprise that Exodus is getting as much attention from Mass Effect as it is, and clearly, the game is going to offer a similar experience to BioWare’s series in a number of key ways.
Take companions, for instance- Exodus is set to feature a large and varied cast of characters that will accompany you throughout the game. Speaking in a Q&A recently uploaded by developer Archetype Entertainment, studio co-founder and executive producer Chad Robertson spoke some more about what to expect from Exodus’ companion characters, and what role they will play in the experience as a whole.
“Companions are a huge part of Exodus,” Robertson said. “We understand how important they are to players, they’re super important to us. We’ve got an amazing, diverse cast of companions that we’ve put together.”
Of course, thus far, the only companion character that has been revealed for Exodus is Elise, who likes to take to the battlefield inside of a mech. According to Robertson, however, she is “representative of the kind of diversity” Exodus’ cast of companion characters will boast- including non-human characters.
“I hope you like her, she’s representative of the kind of diversity we have in the game, including some non-human companions that are going to come your way over time,” he said.
Robertson also touched on other characters that players will interact with throughout the story. In Exodus, time dilation is core part of the narrative– players will frequently travel out from home on long interstellar voyages, travelling at close to the speed of light, which means that by the time they come back, though only a few weeks will have passed for them, decades will have passed for everyone they left behind.
According to Robertson, Exodus’ core cast of companion characters will always travel with you on all of these long-distance journeys, but given the passage of time, each time you come back, you will also meet entirely new characters.
“With the passage of decades in Exodus, there’s definitely going to be the introduction of new characters in the game, but there’s also a core that will stay with you throughout the entire journey,” Robertson said. “That’s really important to us, because we want to build emotional connections with your companions, your loved ones, and other main characters in the game.
“So you’re going to see those evolve with you, because some of them are going to go with you on your journeys with you, and some will stay home. Ultimately, there’s that core that you’re going to see again and again and build deep foundational relationships with, in addition to new ones that you’ll see when you come back home and in other aspects of the game.”
During the Q&A, details were also revealed on the many alien species you will encounter throughout your time in Exodus, as well as the role that award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey’s character will play in the game.
Exodus is in development for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. You can learn more about the game in our interview with Narrative Director Drew Karpyshyn through here.