An original sci-fi role-playing game from former Mass Effect devs has been given a release date and a new trailer, as the studio boasts about its wishlist figures.
There are understandable concerns about the future of Mass Effect, EA and BioWare’s sci-fi action role-playing series, even though a new game is supposed to be in development.
The sequel was announced in 2020 and in that time, there have been no tangible updates, BioWare has seen numerous layoffs, and now that EA is under new ownership only its most profitable franchises, like EA Sports FC, will be taking priority.
Fans’ only saving grace is that new alternatives are cropping up to fill in for Mass Effect. Perhaps the most notable example is Exodus, which is being helmed by former BioWare staff and now has a firm release date.
Announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live, Exodus is scheduled to launch on April 7, 2027, which is so far a completely dead month when it comes to major new game releases.
The release date news also accompanied a new gameplay trailer highlighting two of Exodus’ companion characters: an octopus bounty hunter in a mech suit called Salt and an enigmatic alien called Emrys, who fights by draining the energy of enemies.
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Developer Archetype Entertainment has also taken a moment to brag that Exodus has been wishlisted more than 500,000 times across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
The team is encouraging further wishlists by offering rewards when it meets certain milestones. The first target has already been met, so it’s hoping to receive a million wishlists, which will unlock new in-game costumes for protagonist character Jun – according to Archetype’s website.
Exodus serves as Archetype’s first game and is being published by Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering company Wizards of the Coast, as part of a broader push into in-house video game development.
As we said, it’s far from the only Mass Effect alternative on the way. For example, Owlcat Games, which has worked on games based on the Pathfinder tabletop role-playing game, is working on its own action role-player based on sci-fi franchise The Expanse.
Titled The Expanse: Reborn, it’s also aiming for a 2027 launch and though it doesn’t have any former BioWare people working on it, it is very blatantly inspired by Mass Effect.
Mass Effect director Casey Hudson has also set up his own studio called Arcanaut Studios, alongside former BioWare staff, and their first project will be a new Star Wars role-player called Star Wars: Fate Of The Old Republic.
It sadly doesn’t have a release date (or even any gameplay footage), but Hudson has promised that you won’t need to wait till 2030 to play it, suggesting the goal is to have it out within the next few years.
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