Recently, for Wizards of the Coast's (hereafter WotC) upcoming open-world action-adventure game, Warlock: Dungeons & Dragons, we published an interview.
WotC has released numerous games such as Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons, and EXODUS, introduced in this article, is one of them.
Speaking with the developers who visited Japan in conjunction with Tokyo Game Show 2026, we had the chance to play EXODUS firsthand.
Hands-On Gameplay Reveals the Sci-Fi Flavor and Exhilarating Combat of EXODUS
EXODUS is a single-player, third-person sci-fi action-adventure RPG developed by Archetype Entertainment under WotC.
Unveiled for the first time at The Game Awards 2023, this title is the debut work of Archetype Entertainment, led by James Ohlen, an alumnus of BioWare known for titles such as Baldur's Gate and Mass Effect.
Drawing inspiration from works such as Dune, Star Wars, and Interstellar, the main theme of this title is time dilation caused by interstellar travel at sub-light speeds.
A glimpse of the grand narrative was revealed, where only a short time passes for the player while decades elapse on their home planet, drawing significant attention.
The mission played this time involves visiting the orbital space station Khonsu, operated by the Kay, to eliminate a threat.
Just who are the Kay...?
Please note that subsequent screens and specifications are currently under development.
They are subject to change in the final release.
Combat progresses from a third-person perspective.
With the demo set somewhat into the story, the character was equipped with a three-round burst rifle, as well as a shotgun for close range and weapons specialized in stealth performance.
You can advance combat advantageously by issuing orders to accompanying companions.
Saliman appears to be a stealth variation capable of cloaking, while Elise appears to be a juggernaut variation clad in massive armor.
Brute-forcing shield-bearers with missiles!
The protagonist, Jun, also has glyphs equipped on the gauntlet, capable of triggering various effects.
Objects blocking the path are destroyed with Eruption!
If laser beams are in the way...
Toss.
Solidify it, and you can pass right through.
Naturally, it can also be used in combat.
Unique enemies also appeared along the way.
The unique enemy dropped a MOD as loot.
MODs function like weapon attachments, each possessing distinct characteristics.
Rate of Fire III, which dropped this time, is quite powerful, as it increases rate of fire by 15%.
With rarity tiers seemingly present, repeatedly running missions until your desired MOD drops appears to offer substantial replay value.
Additionally, inventory, suits, skills, and more can be checked on the menu screen.
While the suit had basic stats in this demo, we look forward to seeing unique options in the future.
A skill tree is prepared for the protagonist, Jun.
Variations are diverse, ranging from specializing in standard infantry combat and improving durability to strengthening glyphs and enhancing stealth capabilities.
Which branch to develop depends entirely on playstyle.
For this session, we upgraded glyphs to go all-out with flashy gameplay.
...And along the way, we found an enemy soldier collapsed on the ground.
He was already covered in wounds, showing no apparent hostility.
In EXODUS, small player choices eventually turn into massive waves that impact the future of the entire narrative.
Friendly and hostile options are marked with icons...
By choosing the hostile option this time, our Immortal rank increased.
In another scene, instead of purchasing the keycard needed to enter a room, we could forcibly take it.
While we could not verify within this demo session how extensively these choices reflect on the overarching scenario, the development team has placed this system at the very core of the work.
Given that time dilation serves as the central theme, imagining how past events might ripple across years into the future is truly tantalizing.
Moving forward, we finally came face-to-face with 42C of the Kay.
In EXODUS, intelligent beings other than humans (collectively known as the Awakened) have established their own distinct habitats.
The Kay are frog-like Awakened.
Additionally, Salt, an octopus mercenary who supports the frontline in heavy armor, is featured in the trailer, and the wolf Houston plays a major role in the narrative.
At the end of the mission, you end up confronting a giant bear.
It turns out she had a proper name and rank: Captain Irina Bruin.
How to deal with her feral behavior puts the player's skills to the test.
...And with that, the hands-on session concluded.
Finally, we spoke with EXODUS Narrative Director Drew Karpyshyn and Creative Director Jesse Sky.
About Half a Year Until Release! Asking About Development Progress and Game Systems
Below is a translation from Japanese.
Q. How does the story change as players consistently choose friendly or hostile options?
We call them Paladin and Immortal.
Paladin aligns more closely with human ideals, while Immortal is closer to the Celestials, though they aren't always symmetrical choices.
Players can choose either path, and their decisions trigger changes in abilities and core story developments.
Q. Is it possible to complete every battle using stealth?
Combat styles in EXODUS fall roughly into three variations: firearm combat with weapons, combat using glyphs, and stealth combat.
All of them can be specialized through skill tree progression, and companions fighting alongside you also have strengths and weaknesses.
While you can generally proceed stealthily, certain encounters like scripted events and boss battles cannot be cleared through stealth alone.
Q. With about six months until launch, what areas of development are you currently focusing on?
Animations and combat balance tuning.
We are aiming for a high-quality finish across all fronts—lore, narrative, characters, and combat.
We will continue fine-tuning each element that enriches our central theme of time dilation right up until launch.
Q. Is this your first time visiting Japan?
Drew Karpyshyn: It is my first time.
Jesse Sky: This is my second time.
Q. Was there anything in particular you were looking forward to?
Drew Karpyshyn: The food.
Just over these past few days, everything I've eaten has been far higher quality and delicious compared to what I normally have.
Everything is fresh and wonderful, but for me, cuisine makes up a massive part of this experience (laughs).
Jesse Sky: Truly everything.
I love manga, anime, Tokyo, and Japan, so being able to come here again is an absolute honor.
Q. Could you tell us about any works that inspired you as game developers?
Drew Karpyshyn: I've always loved Dungeons & Dragons.
In video games, I was deeply influenced by a title I played long ago called MYST.
Through that game, I was shown that video games could possess profound lore, stories, and worldbuilding.
Jesse Sky: While EXODUS draws inspiration from works like Dune, Star Wars, and Interstellar, I personally love Japanese sci-fi works.
In particular, I was influenced by Neon Genesis Evangelion and Cowboy Bebop.
The new sci-fi action-adventure RPG from former BioWare creators, EXODUS, is scheduled for release on Wednesday, April 7, 2027.
While drawing comparisons to titles like Mass Effect and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, it incorporates numerous elements unique to this title, such as time dilation from interstellar travel and a distinctive combat system.
Its profound narrative and universe, where player choices affect home worlds and civilizations decades into the future, will surely become clearer with upcoming updates.
For more details, please check the official EXODUS website and the official X account (@EXODUSGame).