EXODUS Shows 20 Minutes of Gameplay With Companions, Choices, and Clear Mass Effect Influence

EXODUS received its biggest gameplay showcase yet during the Future Game Show 2026, giving a longer look at combat, companions, exploration, and choice driven storytelling. The new preview ran for nearly 20 minutes and made the game’s Mass Effect influence easy to see, which is not surprising given that Archetype Entertainment was founded by former BioWare developers.

The game follows Jun Aslan, a salvager living on the edge of Lidon. Jun comes from a once powerful family but was orphaned and now carries a rare genetic trait that allows interaction with ancient Celestial technology. That connection may become the key to saving Jun’s homeworld from a threat known as the Rot.

The Rot is not a simple disease. It is described as a Celestial virus that can intelligently rewrite Celestial programming and push humanity closer to extinction. Jun and the crew must travel across the Centauri Cluster, explore dangerous planets, and recover alien Remnants that may help create a cure.

EXODUS is currently planned to launch in early 2027 for PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.

Player choice shapes Jun’s powers, identity, and the world around them

At the start of EXODUS, players can customize Jun as either male or female, with several appearance options. The game also asks players to choose an initial alignment. Jun can begin as a virtuous Paladin or an ambitious Immortal.

This alignment is not only a role playing label. It changes how the world responds to Jun and affects progression. The chosen path determines which abilities can be upgraded and how Jun’s powers develop over time. Later choices also feed into these alignment paths, giving the system a clear connection to Mass Effect’s Paragon and Renegade structure.

One of the more distinct ideas in EXODUS is time dilation. Since Jun travels across vast distances at near light speed, days for the crew can become weeks or months for the people back home. That means mission order, travel time, and recovered Remnants can all change what happens on Lidon while Jun is away.

Companions appear central to the story and its moral conflicts

The gameplay showcase introduced several companions who will travel with Jun or shape the journey. Phaedra Nath is a well known xeno archaeologist with a story tied to the Celestials. Tom Vargas is an experienced Traveler who appears more cautious and morally grounded. Elise Charroux is a mech pilot who prefers direct force and explosive solutions.

The game also includes Awakened companions. These are highly intelligent animals created through bioengineering and cybernetics. They now live alongside humans and are part of society, not just side characters. Salt, an Awakened octopus mercenary, was shown as a cold and capable ally with a contract based view of loyalty. Houston is another Awakened companion and appears to be close to Jun from the beginning.

C.C. Orlev, voiced by Matthew McConaughey, was also shown. He is described as a mysterious space cowboy and appears during the showcase giving Jun a Recycler upgrade.

Combat includes flexible weapons, stealth, and alien technology

The Recycler is one of Jun’s main tools. It can shift between three modes. Repeater mode is for steady mid range fire, Shredder mode is for close combat, and Piercer mode is for long range precision. Jun also gains access to The Gauntlet, an artifact inherited from Jun’s father that grows stronger as alien technology is salvaged.

Several abilities were shown, including Eruption, Lance, Precognition, Scramble Cloak, and Sonic Lure. These powers support different play styles, from direct combat to stealth and crowd control. Unlike Mass Effect, stealth appears to be a proper option rather than a minor side mechanic.

The showcase also highlighted moral decisions. In one scene, Jun must choose between Elise’s plan to vent an airlock and clear enemies quickly, or Tom’s warning that innocent dock workers may still be inside. Some choices will have immediate results, while others may affect the crew and the homeworld later.

EXODUS looks like a science fiction RPG built for players who miss companion driven space adventures. Its BioWare roots are clear, but the time dilation system, Awakened species, and evolving world could help it build its own identity when it arrives in 2027.