Wizards’ Major AAA Video Game “Exodus” Expands into a Tabletop RPG

Archetype Entertainment, a branch of the renowned Dungeons & Dragons publisher Wizards of the Coast, just revealed a brand-new tabletop role-playing game for its original AAA sci-fi RPG, Exodus. This announcement follows Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks’ recent comments to Bloomberg about their plans to release one to two games each year in the upcoming years. It looks like Exodus is gearing up to finally take center stage.

Helmed by former BioWare developers—the team responsible for classics like the original Baldur’s Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and the Mass Effect trilogy—Exodus initially caught attention with a dazzling cinematic trailer introduced by none other than Matthew McConaughey at The Game Awards 2023. The trailer hinted at a fresh take on the sci-fi RPG scene, diving into the intriguing concept of time dilation in space. This theme seems to tap into the ongoing fascination sparked by Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar,” making McConaughey’s cameo a clever nod. Since then, fans have been eagerly waiting, though detailed updates on the game have been scarce. Instead, they’ve been treated to insightful articles on the game’s expansive universe and the impressive team behind it. Earlier this year, an in-universe novel by Peter F. Hamilton added to the anticipation.

The rollout for the tabletop game feels like an exclusive club entry. It’s tagged as a “special limited time offer” for those who sign up for Archetype’s “founders” email list. Join by December 10, and you’ll get a “chance to purchase” an early edition of the rulebook. The main detail about the Exodus TTRPG is that it’s crafted by James Ohlen, a name well-known for his work on Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2, Neverwinter Nights, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Beyond a cover image and some bullet points about exploring the Exodus universe, becoming “the Traveler,” and grappling with time dilation, specifics on gameplay and mechanics are still under wraps.

Taking the route of launching a tie-in tabletop RPG is becoming a trend for major IP-based games looking to generate buzz for crowdfunding or preorders. Projects like the Neopets RPG have successfully raised impressive funds even before revealing any game mechanics on Kickstarter.

Whether this ambitious leap into the tabletop world will succeed is still uncertain, especially since it marks Wizards of the Coast’s first non-Dungeons & Dragons RPG venture since Gamma World. For now, the universe of the Exodus TTRPG remains largely mysterious.

Exodus is slated for release on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, though no official release date has been confirmed at the moment.