Granted, this isn’t a new game announcement like last year’s The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. If you’ve been following the developer’s various teasers over the past few months, a bit of this probably seemed familiar. But after years of hearing about its ambition, and how it wanted to deliver this role-playing game that measures decisions in hundreds of years, we have to admit: Exodus is coming together very well.

From the outset, it’s pretty standard sci-fi fare. You play as Jun Aslan, a salvager who has a special gift (and whose appearance you can customize). For some reason, they can access ancient Celestial structures, which one of your companions calls a salvager’s dream. But far from simply embarking on missions to discover valuables, you become a Traveler, a faction that sets out to explore the universe and discover Remnants, which are ancient relics. So far, pretty straightforward…except the whole point of leaving Lidon, the moon that you call home, is to find a way to stop a disease called the Rot.

Then there’s the other twist: Time passes at different rates. A week out in space can feel like years back home, and this is more than just some kind of Interstellar-like plot device – it has a huge bearing on everything.

We’ll get to that, but when it comes to the moment-to-moment gameplay, whether you’re interacting with different characters or engaging in combat, Exodus feels like it’s hitting on all cylinders. A good example is a situation where you need to clear out a gaggle of mercenaries with an armored turret as backup. While you could simply go loud and start blasting, there’s also the option to play it stealthily. Snipe enemies from afar in silence, crouch-walk around and take down any unwitting fools or embrace the assassin’s path and deliver death from above. If things get too dicey, you can even activate the Scramble Cloak for some much-needed invisibility.

All of this would be well enough on its own, but the core combat is also more than up to the task of delivering some standout moments. Aside from a mysterious gauntlet passed down by his father, Jun can also use a grappling hook to get around the environment. This already opens up more traversal options on the battlefield, but in a particularly cool moment later on, it’s revealed that you can grapple into cover. Of all the talk about revamping cover-based mechanics that I’ve heard over the past few days, this is one of the coolest things that a third-person shooter/action RPG has done in years.

But that’s only the beginning. Synergies allow for comboing different abilities to create specific effects, and you can individually command companions in the middle of combat. Some of the abilities will look familiar – Singularity, anyone? – but then there are those like Lance, provided as an upgrade while exploring. It’s most useful for destroying the brambles created by the Rot, but aim at a boss’s weak points, as seen in combat versus the Ghost Cannon, and it can inflict some heavy damage.

Another cool feature is effectively shaping terrain, thus creating cover on demand. It’s already essential during traversal, especially when chaining its usage with grappling hook swings, but this means encounters won’t simply be defined by existing structures and barricades that you huddle behind. And if all that wasn’t enough, Jun even gets a sword as a melee weapon.

Of course, all of this would matter little if the story and characters weren’t interesting. With Drew Karpyshyn of Mass Effect 1 and 2 fame, and British sci-fi author Peter F Hamilton, it’s not just companions like Elise, Salt the Awakened octopus or the quirky Phaedra who feel unique. Even the NPCs are memorable, like an Awakened elephant vendor who thinks Jun is making a joke about the animal and its ability to remember.

That extends to the choices and consequences apparent throughout the story, further aided by your ability to take the high road as a Paladin or embrace the Immortal lifestyle. Not every choice will be as black and white, as seen in a later mission involving Phaedra and her grandfather, but that’s the beauty of it all, especially in how it affects Lidon.

You’ll journey back to Persepolis between missions and hear stories about how the effects of time dilation – how it’s affected certain individuals and even shaped the city in different ways. New missions also open up, and you’ll meet new characters, which can either further the main narrative or lead to new opportunities. It’s also where you’ll reflect – not just on the validity of your mission and the emotional weight of passed time, but also whether there’s some kind of force that’s guiding you along. Surely, CC Orlowe, played by Matthew McConaughey – whose presence was the biggest selling point of Exodus when it was first announced – has some part in all this, as he seemingly ventures through the universe, strumming his guitar and offering new upgrades for Jun.

Oftentimes when you think of space, it’s the grand scale that comes to mind. The sheer number of planets and stars, the vast emptiness of its reaches, the solitude and isolation that comes with venturing into the unknown. However, Exodus has seemingly tapped into what made the journey so worthwhile in the Mass Effect games.

Rather than trying to capture every single corner of a vast volume of space, spreading its content thin, Archetype appears to present its stories in this universe – both individual and the bigger picture – over a seemingly impossible length of time. As a result, even when you return to familiar people and places, there’s a feeling of wonder and curiosity. Or trepidation and fear over what time does to everything.

Make no mistake – you’ll still explore some pretty fantastical locations. Ruins guarded by Ghost Soldiers who have no other directive than attacking all and sundry. Volcanic reaches with perilous paths. Impressive Celestial structures on a snow-covered world. Even the sights and sounds of Persepolis.

Yet the scale of the events is reflected on a more personal level. In the characters you meet, how you develop Jun – whether it’s to be this legendary do-gooder or this infamous rogue – and what you ultimately decide. It may not seem like venting those mercenaries out of the airlock will have any long-term consequences. But what if there really are innocents among them? How will that come back to haunt players? That such small acts could inspire such questions is one thing – magnifying that against the backdrop of a larger universe and its various species over centuries is quite another.

At first, it seemed like Exodus would buckle under the weight of its own ambition. However, now that we’ve seen an extended gameplay look, and how conversations, decisions and combat flow into each other, we’re incredibly hyped. It’s out in early 2027 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, and if Archetype Entertainment can leverage its premise to deliver on all that potential, creating an unforgettable space adventure in the process, then we could be looking at one of the dark horses of next year.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

The premise revolves around a lowly salvager named Jun Aslan, who can interact with ancient Celestial technology. From lowly salvaging missions, they eventually undertake a quest to find a solution to a virus called the Rot ravaging their homeworld. It’s worth noting that you can customize Jun to be male or female with various options, including face scars.

Throughout your journey, various decisions will let you choose to be a Virtuous Paladin or an Immortal, the latter leaning more towards a Renegade playstyle. Besides Tom and Elise (the woman with the mech), you also encounter Salt, the Awakened octopus, and a researcher named Phaedra. There’s also the mysterious CC Orlowe voiced by Matthew McConaughey, who provides some upgrades.

Combat is equally intriguing, especially because stealth can be used to thin out the herd. Sneakily snipe foes from afar or use the Scramble Cloak to go invisible and execute takedowns. At one point, you can use Jun’s ability to turn off an autocannon and potentially vent the mercenaries in his way. However, that may also mean killing innocents. Paladin or Immortal – it’s your choice, and your companions’ opinions will adjust accordingly.

Of course, the main hook is time dilation. Time passes differently on your home world, and upon returning to Persepolis between missions, you’ll see how your decisions have affected the planet. Another mission involves venturing to a planet after a message from Phaedra’s grandfather, and Ghost Soldiers await to oppose you. Along with using the mysterious gauntlet left by his father to reshape the terrain and create cover, Jun can obtain new abilities, like Lance, which comes in handy against the Ghost Cannon boss.

Exodus is out in early 2027 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC, and Archetype Entertainment will be sharing much more in the lead-up to launch. Stay tuned in the meantime.

Former BioWare developer Kevin Martens, who worked on the original as co-lead designer, is involved, though this is far from his first project with the company. He’s also worked on Archetype Entertainment’s Exodus, also published by Wizards of the Coast, but that’s not all, as Baldur’s Gate 1 may also get the remake treatment.

Assuming they launch relatively close to one another, it would certainly help the marketing push for a figurative Baldur’s Gate 4. Of course, how far along development is, and when they’ll ultimately arrive remains unknown.

Released in 1998, Baldur’s Gate is the first role-playing game developed by BioWare, and it focuses on the player navigating the Sword Coast in Faerun to learn more about themselves. This continues in Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn (2000), considered one of the greatest games of all time thanks to its storytelling, companions and quality of side quests.

While Enhanced Editions of both titles are available courtesy of Beamdog, it remains to be seen how remakes would fundamentally change the gameplay. Maybe iron out some of the rough spots of the 2nd Edition ruleset? Time will tell, so stay tuned.

The latest one takes us to what the studio calls a Volcanic Hellscape, a land where life doesn’t seem to thrive in the slightest. Although we only witness the beginning of Jun Aslan’s descent into this bleak place, the crumbling ruins of a distant ship, and an ominously green fog that we suspect might need an air filtration system are obvious highlights.

Even more ominous is the silence that blankets the region like an almost tangible layer of melancholy. A catalyst for the feeling that something sinister has caused it, and is likely lying in wait for its next unwitting victim. Not if we have anything to do with it, though.

This latest showcase follows that intense fight in the Ghost City and that intriguing look at The Guarding Maze from last week. It’s a seriously impressive effort at presenting biome variety, and June 6 cannot get here fast enough for us as we wait to see how the studio brings all of its worlds together.

A spokesperson said that the decision was made after assessing the project at every stage of its development. Despite this, the spokesperson also noted that the company values its ongoing relationship with Giant Skull studio head and industry veteran Stig Asmussen.

“We assess concepts at every stage of development,” said the Wizards of the Coast spokesperson. “While we decided not to pursue an early concept from Giant Skull, we have great respect for Stig Asmussen and his team and value our ongoing relationship.”

In the meantime, Asmussen has also confirmed that things have been going well at Giant Skull and that he is exploring other potential partnerships to secure a publishing deal for the studio’s projects. “Things are good at Giant Skull,” he said.

Giant Skull was founded by Asmussen back in 2024. A veteran of the industry and having worked on projects like God of War 3, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Asmussen had formed the studio after having left Respawn Entertainment in September 2023. The studio is made up of quite a few gaming industry veterans who have previously worked at major companies like Riot Games, Rocksteady Studios, and Epic Games.

“The Giant Skull studio culture is focused on creativity and curiosity,” Asmussen said when announcing the studio. “We have assembled a talented team renowned for immersive storytelling, heroic combat, and exhilarating traversal, and our goal is to craft a rich universe that players will want to lose themselves in for years to come.”

Few details had been revealed about the Dungeons & Dragons project that was being developed at Giant Skull. Among these things was the fact that it wasn’t going to be a new game in the Baldur’s Gate franchise. Wizards of the Coast president John Hight confirmed that the company was exploring the idea for the future, but Asmussen’s team was working on something else entirely.

“Baldur’s Gate is an incredible game,” said Hight. “And of course, we’re going to do a successor. This is not the successor to that game. We go to Stig and his team to tell an incredible story and bring D&D to a very broad audience. Ideally, the game will appeal to D&D players because it will help them realise their imagination. But it’s also going to hopefully appeal to people that love playing action games, that love the Jedi games, that love God of War games.”

“D&D, as Stig said, it’s a playground and it really is for everyone. Hundreds of millions of people have either played D&D or been aware of D&D, and we want to perpetuate that for the next 50 years.”

Asmussen had also noted that the title was going to feature better animations than games like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

What time? Well, good news – it immediately follows the Future Games Show Summer Showcase set for the same day at noon PT. Alix Wilton Regan, Lara Croft’s voice actor in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, and the ever-affable Troy Baker will be on hand as hosts, as the showcase promises over 40 title announcements. Triple-A, indie – you name it, along with (hopefully) everything else in between.

Of course, beyond the deep dive, there’s also FGS Live From Los Angeles taking place from the Summer Games Fest campus. It promises even more “world premieres and exclusive trailers.”

With Exodus out in 2027, this will finally be the opportunity for Archetype Entertainment to lay out everything players need to know, from examples of the time dilation mechanic to how your decisions can ripple throughout the universe. Thus far, we’ve seen protagonist Jun Aslan using various abilities to reshape terrain, whether it’s to cross gaps or construct cover to battle against Ghosts and other foes.

We also saw Persepolis, Jun’s home city, and the various sights and sounds that bring it to life. How much will it change based on his actions? Time (in the most literal sense) will tell, so stay tuned.

We begin things with a look at a distant foe, who seems like a threat that shouldn’t be taken lightly, with its imposing presence and a rather menacing way of standing in plain sight without a care in the world. Turns out he’s a changeling called Gath with Celestial origins. Knowing his name doesn’t make him any less terrifying, though.

Jun seems to agree with us on this one, taking a detour that requires the use of a Gauntlet ability called Eruption that can destroy obstacles in your path, as well as reconstructing limestone deposits to create paths. The party is certainly going to need it, considering how labyrinthine the entire place looks. We don’t know if we’re more intimidated by this one or the Ghost City that Archetype showcased a while ago.

We’re going to continue to complain about how every one of these little peeks behind the development curtain only makes us more eager to see the extended showcase coming this Summer. Hopefully it will tide us over before the game’s launch in 2027 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

They’ve become a regular little bit of joy to look forward to, although each one has made the wait for Exodus that much more excruciating. The latest sees Jun Aslan and his comrades exploring the Ghost City under Lidon, a place that we’re now itching to explore.

We see a bit of his gear in action, as he shoots out a spike that burrows underground before unleashing a powerful uppercut, commanding a mortar weapon to take some distant enemies out of the equation, alongside the Shredder, doing an excellent job of dispatching hostiles without you breaking too much of a sweat. There’s also a glimpse of Elise doing her best Juggernaut impression on a wall to clear a path to the team’s next objective.

All in all, the party is shaping up to be quite adept in a variety of situations, be it a literal volcano, a stealth-focused infiltration , Jun’s home, or icy planets. We can’t wait to test them all out and find some exciting synergies along the way when Exodus launches next year for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

It’s Persepolis that’s getting the spotlight this time around, and it’s a place that protagonist Jun Aslan calls home. It’s quite the city, with many interesting sights that his Precognition highlights with ease. We’ve got a massive orbiting gas giant, Galarus, and Oupávia Space Tower that still holds signs of a glorious past. The city below us feels like it could be an entire world all on its own in a game whose scope isn’t as ambitious as this one.

Persepolis joins several other interesting destinations, such as the volcanic ruin that was previously showcased, and a frozen planet. Of course, navigating all those biomes is going to be made pretty easy thanks to a bunch of cool weapons, tools, and abilities that Aslan and co. are bringing to the table.

We’re predicting that the upcoming showcase ties all of these snippets together quite nicely. Whether that eases our impatience or exacerbates it until the game’s 2027 release for the PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S is anybody’s guess. In the meantime, check out our beta impressions for The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, the other Mass Effect-like coming next year.

We see our protagonist stay low and quiet as they make their way across a room patrolled by hostile robots, who never even realize they’re in danger thanks to quiet takedowns from up close. Jun can even utilize silenced rifles, taking down threats in relatively close quarters without enemies being alerted to your presence. Turns out those well-placed cover areas aren’t just for avoiding enemy fire, after all.

The latest snippet, showcased below, joins a long line of others that showcase a trek through a literal volcano, a bit of traversal, and some well-designed areas that we’re just itching to explore or, at the very least, see more of in the near future. Exodus is shaping up to be quite the title, and Archetype’s confidence in its work is shining through with every peek behind the curtain it’s given us so far.

If only Summer and that extended gameplay showcase can get here sooner. But we think that our patience is about to be rewarded very generously, so there’s that. Exodus is currently slated for release in 2027 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.