Archetype Entertainment, a branch of Wizards of the Coast, best known for Dungeons & Dragons, has just unveiled an intriguing venture—a tabletop role-playing game inspired by its original AAA sci-fi RPG, Exodus. This comes hot on the heels of Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks’ recent chat with Bloomberg, where he teased the release of one to two games annually in the coming years. With this in mind, Exodus seems poised to make a dazzling entrance.
The anticipation surrounding Exodus is not unfounded, especially given the impressive pedigree behind it. A team of veteran developers who previously worked with BioWare—responsible for classics like Baldur’s Gate, Knights of the Old Republic, and the Mass Effect series—are at the helm. The game made its grand debut with a cinematic trailer at The Game Awards 2023, introduced by none other than Matthew McConaughey. The trailer hinted at a fresh take on sci-fi RPGs, diving into the intriguing implications of time dilation during space travel. This concept resonated with audiences, particularly those with a lingering fascination with Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, justified by McConaughey’s involvement. Since then, however, details on the game itself have been somewhat elusive. Fans have had to content themselves with articles exploring the game’s worldbuilding and the notable team behind it. An accompanying novel set in the game’s universe by Peter F. Hamilton, released earlier this year, has also helped to quench their curiosity.
As for the tabletop RPG version of Exodus, it’s being offered as a “special limited time offer” to those who sign up for Archetype’s “founders” email list. By doing so before December 10, participants have the opportunity to potentially acquire an early edition of the rulebook. The game is designed by Exodus developer James Ohlen, renowned for his work on titles like Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2, Neverwinter Nights, and Knights of the Old Republic. Despite a captivating cover image and some general tidbits about the game—such as venturing into the Exodus universe as “the Traveler” and grappling with time dilation—the specifics of gameplay remain largely under wraps.
Launching tie-in tabletop RPGs has become a popular strategy for large intellectual properties aiming to generate buzz around their crowdfunding or preorder campaigns. A prominent example is the Neopets RPG, which managed to amass substantial funds before releasing any gameplay mechanics on their Kickstarter page.
The big question is whether Archetype’s ambitious play with this AAA venture will succeed. Considering it’s Wizards of the Coast’s first non-Dungeons & Dragons tabletop RPG since Gamma World, the stakes are high, yet details remain sparse about the Exodus TTRPG universe.
As for the main event, Exodus is set to launch on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. Unfortunately, there’s no confirmed release date just yet.
