Exodus uses Time Dilation to make decades of player choice matter, devs say

Archetype Entertainment says its upcoming sci‑fi RPG Exodus will fold decades of player choice into a single story using a Time Dilation mechanic, the studio’s writers and directors told GamesRadar. The game, positioned as a spiritual successor to Mass Effect, is not due out until early 2027.

Time Dilation — popularized by films like Interstellar and even evoked by Matthew McConaughey’s voice in the Game Awards trailer — means protagonist Jun may feel only days have passed while months or decades go by for those left behind. Narrative director Drew Karpyshyn called the results “sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes terrifying.” Companion selection will be consequential: studio co‑founder Chad Robertson says characters are “geared around different things” (stealth, brute force, etc.), and Karpyshyn warned players will face “tough choices” when deciding who to bring, because those left at home are affected by the time shifts.

Archetype also says the game will be curated rather than purely open‑ended. Game director Chris King stressed side content should feel meaningful, while Karpyshyn said the team doesn’t want quests to feel “tacked‑on” or done only for XP. Robertson added the aim is to create “water cooler moments” where players compare how different choices played out.

Exodus already spans short stories, a novel and a TTRPG, but Karpyshyn admits the studio can’t put everything into a single title and is focusing on a “relatively small subset” of the universe.

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