A surprising development has shaken one of the most anticipated sci-fi RPGs on the horizon. James Ohlen, producer of Exodus and co-founder of Archetype Entertainment, is leaving the studio more than a year ahead of launch, claiming that his work on the project is already complete.
Many of the science fiction RPGs expected in the coming years are clearly building upon the foundations laid by the Mass Effect saga more than a decade ago. Grand space operas, tactical combat, deep character relationships, and vast alien civilizations have once again become defining elements of the genre. One of the most prominent upcoming projects in this vein is Exodus, developed under the Wizards of the Coast umbrella – the company behind Dungeons & Dragons – and led by veterans of the Mass Effect franchise. However, even though its release is still more than a year away, the project has encountered a major disruption, losing its producer seemingly overnight.
The departing figure is none other than James Ohlen, executive producer of Exodus and co-founder of Archetype Entertainment. Ohlen is a well-known industry veteran: as a designer, he worked on Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II, and as a director, he led development on Star Wars: The Old Republic. His departure now forces Hasbro, the parent company of Wizards of the Coast, to reorganize leadership around the project.
Exodus Producer James Ohlen Steps Away
Hasbro confirmed to Bloomberg that Paul Della Bitta will now lead Wizards of the Coast Digital Ventures. A former Blizzard developer and co-founder of Dreamhaven, Della Bitta will operate under the supervision of John Hight, president of Wizards of the Coast and also a former Blizzard executive. While Della Bitta will not be directly involved in the day-to-day development of Exodus, his role, alongside Hight’s, will be to find a suitable replacement for the position vacated by Ohlen.
What makes Ohlen’s departure particularly unusual is the reasoning behind it. The executive has stated that he feels his work on Exodus is finished, and that the final polish and adjustments are already in capable hands, despite the fact that the game is still more than a year away from release. According to Bloomberg, the situation is even more complex: Hasbro itself reportedly approached Ohlen with an offer to form an entirely new team under the Wizards of the Coast banner, tasked with developing a brand-new science fiction saga.
For now, it remains unclear whether Ohlen’s exit will have any significant impact on Exodus. What is certain is that his departure from the project is definitive. While he is not cutting ties with Hasbro entirely, Ohlen has expressed a desire to shift his focus toward tabletop role-playing games, continuing his involvement only as a creative consultant. Meanwhile, development on Exodus continues, with the RPG currently targeting a release sometime in 2027.
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