Exodus: Official Cover Reveal

When Matthew McConaughey took the stage at The Game Awards in 2023 to unveil Exodus, his debut foray into interactive entertainment quickly captured the industry’s curiosity. While early buzz understandably centered on its Hollywood pedigree, subsequent reveals have demonstrated that the project’s ambitions stretch far beyond star power. Crafted by Archetype Entertainment—a studio assembled by veterans of BioWare, Naughty Dog, and Halo Studios—this sci-fi epic stands as one of the most promising role-playing endeavors in recent memory. Naturally, it claims the spotlight on the cover of Game Informer, graced by the striking figure of Salt, an Awakened mech-piloting octopus.

Our editorial team journeyed to Archetype’s headquarters in Austin, Texas, spending nearly four hours immersed in an early build of this far-future odyssey. Set 40,000 years after humanity’s departure from Earth, Exodus explores a cosmos shaped by near-lightspeed interstellar travel and the brutal reality of time dilation. While voyagers perceive their journeys as fleeting moments, weeks, years, or entire decades slip away in real time. This temporal displacement, combined with uplifted fauna and godlike Celestials, forms the spine of the game’s dynamic storytelling: decisions made in the present yield profound, generational consequences across the galaxy.

During our hands-on preview, we navigated a launch facility alongside Salt, wandered the bustling streets of the central hub city Persepolis, and boarded Khonsu—a sophisticated orbital habitat run by an intelligent, amphibious civilization. Our comprehensive 14-page cover feature dives deep into every facet of the gameplay and universe, supplemented by ongoing coverage, exclusive video features, and rapid-fire interviews on our YouTube channel. Additionally, Editor-in-Chief Matt Miller delivers a six-page deep dive featuring acclaimed sci-fi author Peter F. Hamilton and the Archetype team, exploring the broader multimedia ecosystem spanning tie-in novels, tabletop rulesets, and an installment of Secret Level.

Celebrating 35 Years of Game Informer

This landmark issue doubles as our grand 35th-anniversary celebration. Inside, readers will find a 12-page commemorative retrospective revisiting some of our most iconic covers, accompanied by heartfelt reflections from editorial alumni including Elizabeth Olson, Andy McNamara, Ben Hanson, and Dan Ryckert. The tribute also gathers commentary from visionary creators across the medium, such as Ed Boon, Ken Levine, Takashi Iizuka, and Tony Hawk. Physical subscribers will receive an exclusive double-sided anniversary poster showcasing a sprawling mosaic of nearly 400 historic covers.

Packed With Critical Insights and Exclusive Previews

Beyond our cover story and anniversary festivities, this issue is filled with in-depth critiques and forward-looking previews:

• Retrospectives & Industry Analysis: Guest writer Scott White re-evaluates the enduring legacy of Final Fantasy X with commentary from Yoshinori Kitase; Alicia Haddick investigates Japan’s rising trend of adapting indie games for cinema; Kyle Hilliard sits down with the creators behind The Talos Principle 3 to discuss its definitive conclusion; Marcus Stewart delivers six pages of hands-on impressions from 1666: Amsterdam; and Brian Shea chats with Sonic Team to honor the blue hedgehog’s own 35th anniversary.
• Extensive Previews: Early hands-on breakdowns including The Duskbloods, Star Wars: Galactic Racer, Gears of War: E-Day, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, and Vampirium: 1997.
• Definitive Reviews: Comprehensive verdicts on Halo: Campaign Evolved, Beast of Reincarnation, Big Walk, Denshattack, The Mermaid Mask, Splatoon Raiders, along with a historical gallery in an expanded edition of GI Spy.

Global Print Expansion & Subscription Details

In a major milestone for our circulation, print subscriptions have officially expanded to 40 additional countries worldwide. International readers joining our subscriber base will receive the Exodus cover issue as their inaugural edition. To commemorate this milestone, Matt Miller shares a special Letter from the Editor detailing our journey through three and a half decades of print journalism.

Existing international digital patrons can seamlessly upgrade to physical deliveries through our subscription portal. New subscribers can register today to receive 10 issues delivered directly to their doorstep annually. The digital edition is accessible immediately to all active members on our interactive hub, while standalone copies remain available at newsstands and retail book outlets globally.

Stay locked to our coverage hub throughout the month for continuous gameplay breakdowns, developer roundtables, and exclusive looks into the world of Exodus.

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