Archetype Entertainment, a branch of Wizards of the Coast, renowned for Dungeons & Dragons, recently unveiled a tabletop role-playing game inspired by its much-anticipated AAA sci-fi RPG, Exodus. Amidst Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks revealing to Bloomberg their ambitious plan to release one to two games annually over the coming years, it seems Exodus is gearing up for its big reveal.
Led by a crew of former BioWare developers—known for classics such as the original Baldur’s Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and the Mass Effect series—Exodus was introduced with flair at The Game Awards 2023. A cinematic trailer, introduced by none other than Matthew McConaughey, hinted at a fresh take on the sci-fi RPG landscape, delving into the intriguing implications of time dilation in space travel. This thematic choice was likely influenced by the enduring fascination with Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, which starred McConaughey. Despite the initial buzz, details have been scarce, with fans having to rely on worldbuilding articles and a recently published in-universe novel by Peter F. Hamilton to satiate their curiosity.
The upcoming tabletop game is being promoted as a “special limited time offer” for those who sign up for Archetype’s “founders” email list. Signing up by December 10 offers just a “chance to purchase” an early edition of the rulebook. James Ohlen, who has a legacy of crafting epic games like Baldur’s Gate and Knights of the Old Republic, is spearheading the design. While there’s a cover image and some basic info suggesting players will explore the Exodus universe as “the Traveler,” grappling with time dilation, the specifics of the gameplay remain under wraps.
Releasing a related tabletop RPG is becoming a norm for significant IP-driven games aiming to generate excitement around their crowdfunding or preorder activities. The Neopets RPG, which amassed considerable funds before sharing any game mechanics on Kickstarter, is a prime example.
Whether this large-scale effort will be successful is still uncertain. For Wizards of the Coast, known mostly for Dungeons & Dragons, launching the Exodus TTRPG marks a new venture since Gamma World. Currently, the world of Exodus TTRPG remains largely unexplored.
The Exodus video game is also expected to launch on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. However, as of now, there’s no specified release date.
