Gamescom 2026 Exodus Preview: Fill The Mass Effect-Sized Hole In Your Life

Published Sep 2, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT

James is a gaming writer from London who has spent thousands of hours exploring titles from every genre. Though he has a particular affinity for multiplayer titles like World of Warcraft, Destiny 2 and League of Legends, he has also put thousands of hours into single-player experiences, from deep RPGs to epic PC strategies. When he's not playing or writing, he can usually be found supporting his beloved Brentford FC.

Archetype Entertainment's Exodus was actually revealed all the way back at The Game Awards in 2023, quickly garnering a bunch of attention from interested fans (and those who were curious to see the extent of Matthew McConaughey's involvement). Since then, things have been relatively quiet, but the game recently broke cover again as part of Gamescom 2026, and after spending some time with it, it easily has the potential to be one of the biggest hits of next year.

The sci-fi RPG genre has felt woefully underserved over the last decade or so, perhaps even stretching all the way back to the conclusion of the Mass Effect original trilogy in 2012. Happily, news that interesting projects were on the way has alleviated some of the concern in recent months, one of which, Exodus, is barreling toward a release date in the first half of next year.

To Infinity, And Beyond

Archetype Entertainment

To start with a little background, Archetype Entertainment was founded in 2019 by some very notable ex-Bioware developers, including James Ohlen, Chad Robertson, and Drew Karpyshyn. Exodus is going to serve as their first finished game, and publisher Wizards of the Coast will be hoping it can hit the ground running when it drops on April 7, 2027.

So what's it all about? Well, Exodus is set in the far future, in the Omega Centauri cluster, a region of space some 16,000 light years away from our own solar system. There, humans have (somewhat) conquered the stars, with interstellar travel leading to contact with myriad other species from different parts of the universe. The story follows Travelers, a faction who hunt down advanced relics known as Remnants.

In broad strokes, the story seems solid enough, and your interactions with those you meet will undoubtedly play a big part in the game's overall success. That said, our hands-on was much more focused on the gameplay mechanics, and it's there that the successes of the development team are immediately impressed upon the player.

The mission we were given access to for our Gamescom preview sees us exploring a wrecked ship, which has been overtaken by several factions who are hunting the valuable items within. Along the way, there are dialogue options that affect how everything plays out, and optional objectives that offer extra rewards at the cost of additional risk.

Lean Mean Killing Machine

Archetype Entertainment

When starting the mission, we head out with two additional party members to assist our player character, and that squad dynamic is the first place that Exodus really starts to shine.

Dialogue flows naturally as you explore the ship, without being an overbearing nuisance while you're trying to concentrate. At the same time, your conversations during the mission are a chance to bond with your squad further, though what tangible effects this will have on how the game plays out would require a more extensive look.

From there, combat quickly takes hold, and for a longtime Mass Effect player, it really does feel like the gaming equivalent of a nice warm bath. You use cover to prevent enemies from attacking you in the first instance, before popping up to fire your own weapons, or use an ability that your gauntlet gives access to.

Those abilities are biotics of sorts, and you can do things like cause straight line ruptures in the ground to knock enemies away. At the same time, these unique powers also have utilitarian uses, including unblocking otherwise impassable sections, or identifying what you need to do next. Happily, it all combines to quickly make you feel like an absolute wrecking ball, though you do have to watch your health as the player isn't super durable.

Your teammates will get involved in the fight for themselves, but you can also hand out orders via a radial wheel if you want them to do something specific. This is particularly useful if there are certain enemies that you want them to focus, or if a certain ability would prove uniquely effective in any given situation.

At the same time, you can hit these abilities simultaneously to generate synergized additional damage, corroding foes or setting them aflame and staggering them.

A Nailed-On Hit For 2027

Archetype Entertainment

The attention to detail in the game is also noticeable from the off. The most obvious example comes when we enter sections of the broken ship that are exposed to the void of space. Our player character moves more slowly, and all of the elements we control feel more wooly in the lack of gravity.

Overall, if you have been missing great franchises like Mass Effect in your adult life, then Exodus really could be the answer to all of your (our) prayers. It feels tactical and lightweight to play, with deep RPG elements and an engrossing new universe that's as familiar as it is exciting. With not too long to go now until release, this should serve as a must-play for most fans of the genre in 2027.

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