Archetype Entertainment has finally unveiled a first look at the gameplay of its upcoming sci-fi RPG Exodus.
The game was first revealed at last year's The Game Awards and was notable for starring Matthew McConaughey in his first video game role.
A year later, we finally have a better idea of how exactly it will play, thanks to a new gameplay trailer (below): It's got alien planets, third-person space shooting, and a very, very angry bear.
In short, it's a lot like Mass Effect on today's platforms: from its shooter gameplay to its sci-fi aesthetic and narrative focus.
That's not surprising considering the studio's BioWare pedigree. This is the debut game from Archetype Entertainment, co-founded by BioWare veterans James Ohlen (Baldur's Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Dragon Age: Origins) and Chad Robertson (Anthem).
The game will be published by Wizards of the Coast.
More details about Exodus were provided in a livestream following the reveal of the trailer featuring Ohlen and Robertson.
There is also competition between human colonies, creating a web of various relationships and alliances that players must navigate.
A key element will be Livestone, a mineral and vegetation hybrid created by the Celestials that can be controlled by certain humans; I suppose the protagonist player will be one of them.
Time dilation is also a major focus, as the passage of time moves at different speeds throughout the universe. For example, players will make personal and civilizational decisions as they travel to other star systems, and while this may only be a few weeks for their character, their home world will change significantly once they return due to differences in time.
Missions will be carried out with two companions and yes, there will be romance.
However, we still don't know who Matthew McConaughey will play.
So if you're done with Dragon Age: The Veilguard and are eager for a space adventure before the next Mass Effect game, Exodus should have you covered.
That being said, Exodus does not yet have a release date. However, there is a themed episode in Amazon's Secret Level series.
As for the next Mass Effect, project director Michael Gamble said it won't feature stylized visuals like the latest Dragon Age. “Mass Effect is photorealistic and will be photorealistic as long as you're running it,” he said.