Wizards’ High-Stakes AAA Game “Exodus” Expands Into a Tabletop RPG

Archetype Entertainment, under the wing of the famed Dungeons & Dragons publisher Wizards of the Coast, unveiled plans for a tabletop role-playing game tied to its highly anticipated original AAA sci-fi RPG, Exodus. With Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks revealing to Bloomberg an ambitious plan to roll out one to two games annually in the coming years, Exodus seems poised to seize the spotlight soon.

The project boasts a team of seasoned veterans from BioWare, the developers behind timeless classics like Baldur’s Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and the Mass Effect trilogy. Exodus made its grand debut with an eye-catching cinematic trailer, presented by none other than Matthew McConaughey at The Game Awards 2023. The trailer hinted at a fresh take on the sci-fi RPG genre, focusing on the intriguing consequences of time dilation during space travel—a concept that resonated with fans of Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, perfectly justifying McConaughey’s involvement. Although keen fans have had limited glimpses into the game itself, the buzz has been sustained through rich worldbuilding content shared on the official Exodus website and an in-universe novel penned by Peter F. Hamilton earlier this year.

For those eager to dive into the Exodus experience through the tabletop medium, Archetype is offering a “special limited time offer” for early access. By signing up for the “founders” email list by December 10, participants might snag a chance to purchase an early edition of the rulebook. This tabletop version is the brainchild of Exodus developer James Ohlen, renowned for his work on beloved titles such as Baldur’s Gate 1 and 2, Neverwinter Nights, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Details remain sparse, with only a tantalizing cover image and a few highlights such as exploring the Exodus universe as “the Traveler,” and grappling with time dilation. However, the core gameplay and mechanics remain shrouded in mystery.

Launching a tie-in tabletop RPG has become a strategic move for many big IP titles hoping to build hype and support for their crowdfunding or preorder initiatives. We’ve seen similar successes with projects like the Neopets RPG, which managed to amass considerable funds even before detailing their game mechanics on Kickstarter.

Whether this ambitious AAA venture will hit its mark is still up in the air. Marking Wizards of the Coast’s first non-Dungeons & Dragons tabletop RPG since Gamma World, the universe of the Exodus TTRPG remains largely uncharted for now. Meanwhile, the Exodus main game is set to hit PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, though its release date remains under wraps.