James Ohlen, a BioWare veteran, departs from the studio led by Mass Effect alumni, citing the completion of his work on the sci-fi RPG Exodus.

James Ohlen, a veteran of BioWare with 22 years of experience and the director of Baldur’s Gate, is stepping back from his role on the upcoming sci-fi RPG Exodus, which is set to launch in 2027.

According to a report, Ohlen has decided that his contributions to the game are complete and that the team is well-equipped to handle the final polishing and tuning. Although Exodus was first revealed in 2023, it has faced multiple delays since then.

Ohlen will be redirecting his creative efforts towards tabletop RPGs, having co-founded Arcanum Worlds after leaving BioWare in 2018. Meanwhile, Hasbro has appointed former Blizzard lead Paul Della Bittato to spearhead its video game projects under the D&D publisher Wizards of the Coast.

Archetype Entertainment is currently looking for a senior producer, emphasizing the need for someone to help drive their first game to launch. The job description highlights their ambition to assemble a top-tier development team to craft a new science fiction universe for their debut multiplatform role-playing game, aiming to create one of the best story-driven RPGs out there. Exodus, set in a monstrous future 40,000 years ahead, still lacks a specific release date.

Reactions from the community have been mixed, with one user expressing their shift from excitement to indifference regarding Exodus in just a week, citing the trailer and delays as contributing factors.

The new sci-fi RPG from former Mass Effect developers is said to share “some DNA” with BioWare’s iconic series, while also drawing inspiration from titles like Sony’s Horizon and Nintendo’s Metroid.