Exodus Gameplay Delivers the Mass Effect Experience Fans Have Craved for Ten Years

The first substantial glimpse of gameplay for Exodus has arrived, and it’s heavily reminiscent of Mass Effect—like, really reminiscent.

This shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone who’s been keeping tabs on Exodus over the past three years. Announced in 2023, Exodus is a space-faring RPG being crafted by Archetype Entertainment, a new studio that includes several former BioWare team members, notably from the original Mass Effect crew.

Set 40,000 years in the future, Exodus depicts a scenario where humanity has fled a dying Earth and rebuilt society across a cluster of star systems located 16,000 light-years away. Time dilation is a significant aspect of Exodus’ lore; due to relativistic physics, the first humans to reach this cluster evolved over thousands of years, eventually modifying themselves to the point of becoming “Celestials.” You take on the role of Jun Aslan, a human from a family that has only recently arrived in this new world.

During the 2025 Game Awards, Archetype Entertainment unveiled a trailer that provided a sneak peek at Exodus gameplay, but the latest trailer offers the first extended showcase of actual gameplay mechanics.

The gameplay trailer is divided into three parts. The first segment features Jun alongside two companions, Tom and Elise, in Lyonesse, a bustling port city on Lidon, a human stronghold planet. The trio engages in classic cover-based shooting against a group of humans and hovering robots, complete with health bars and weapon-selection wheels that feel right at home in any Mass Effect title.

In the second segment, Jun employs a space grappling hook (officially dubbed the “railclaw,” but let’s stick with “space grappling hook” for flair) to traverse the exterior of an orbital tower. This tower seems to connect Lyonesse to the Cherag Harbor asteroid; as Jun looks up at the stars, the illuminated expanse of Lyonesse is visible below, with an aurora casting a green glow over the Lidon horizon.

The final segment takes place on the planet Khonsu, where Jun approaches an ancient Celestial shrine that has an otherworldly appearance—though it’s worth noting that Celestials are still technically humans, sort of. After 40,000 years, though, who knows how much humanity remains? The temple Jun visits hints at a deeper mysticism within Exodus, suggesting an ancient, enigmatic force in the universe, reminiscent of the allure that captivated fans of Mass Effect years ago.

Exodus is set to launch on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X in “early” 2027. A more in-depth gameplay reveal is expected this summer.