BioWare Legend Departs Mass Effect Veterans’ Studio After Completing Work on Exodus

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Gameplay scene from the sci-fi RPG Exodus

James Ohlen, a BioWare veteran with 22 years of experience and the director behind the original Baldur’s Gate, is stepping down from his role at Archetype Entertainment. This transition occurs as the studio, comprised of many former Mass Effect leads, continues development on its upcoming sci-fi RPG, Exodus, which is slated for a 2027 release.

A recent Bloomberg report notes that Ohlen is moving on because he believes his foundational work on the title is complete. According to Abby Hodes, Hasbro’s vice president of corporate communications, Ohlen felt that the remaining “polishing and tuning” phases were in capable hands with the rest of the development team. Despite its initial reveal in 2023, the ambitious project has reportedly faced several internal delays.

Rather than retiring from the industry, Ohlen is shifting his creative energy back toward tabletop RPGs (TTRPGs). He previously left BioWare in 2018 to co-found Arcanum Worlds, a publisher dedicated to high-quality RPG supplements. Concurrently, Hasbro has recruited former Blizzard executive Paul Della Bitta to lead its gaming initiatives under the Wizards of the Coast umbrella.

To fill the leadership void, Archetype Entertainment is currently seeking a senior producer tasked with “driving our first game to launch.” The studio remains committed to its mission of creating world-class, story-driven roleplaying experiences across multiple platforms.

Exodus is described as a massive interstellar saga set 40,000 years into a grim future, though it currently lacks a concrete launch date. The news of Ohlen’s departure has met with a lukewarm response from some fans; on Reddit, one user expressed that the combination of the reveal trailer, the release delays, and this leadership change has significantly dampened their excitement for the project.

While the game shares creative DNA with BioWare’s iconic science fiction series, it also draws inspiration from contemporary hits like Sony’s Horizon and Nintendo’s Metroid.