Say hello to all the Exodus Mass Effect-like friends you've had so far

When it comes to creating compelling RPG companions, BioWare proved long ago that it knows what it's doing. As such, it is reasonable to expect from peers of the same caliber departureIt's not because it's developed by BioWare, but because it's built by Archetype Entertainment – a team founded by former BioWare devs who worked on the games. Baldur's Gate, Knights of the Old Republicand Dragon Age: Origins. As a sci-fi RPG produced by such a team, departure BioWare seems eager to rekindle the magic Mass Effect series, and with that comes companion characters who are worth spending time with while being useful in combat.

departure' The release date is probably still a year away, so it hasn't revealed all of its friends yet, and whoever has revealed it is still a mystery. The game has been confirmed to attend the Future Game Show on June 6, which could change with the promised expanded gameplay reveal. However, until then, the handful of friends it's already confirmed are worth knowing, even if what's known there isn't really that much.

Meet Exodus' Tom, Elise, and CC Orlev

official departure The website shows a total of 11 companions for the RPG, 5 of which it refers to as the game's “battle companions” and the remaining 6 as “story companions”. While the entire roster of companion characters will likely join the player on their journey, the implication is that the 5 battle buddies will be the ones players can actually take with them out on the field, while the other 6 characters are likely there strictly for story purposes – although it's possible that players will still be able to interact with them in the same way.

Currently, 2 departure' 5 battle companions have been revealed – Tom Vargas and Alice Charroux – while only 1 of the game's story companions, CC Orlev, has been confirmed. Furthermore, each of these characters only has a short bio on the game's website, but again, that may change after the June 6 Future Games Show Summer Showcase when the archetype offers fans a more comprehensive look. departure.

Tom Vargas and Alice Charroux are two of Exodus' battle buddies

First up is Tom Vargas, one departure' Battle buddies confirmed. According to the game's website, Tom is a former traveler who has lost his wife, later rebuilding his life as a skilled rescuer in Lydon. He is sharp, resourceful, connected, and someone who has learned to live amidst the ruins of the past. Based on that description alone, Tom's strongest BioWare parallel is probably Karth Onasi. Knights of the Old Republic. The biggest link is the widower angle, as Karth's backstory is also rooted in his wife's death and subsequent trauma. Karth was a Republic soldier and pilot whose family was destroyed by the Sith, giving him the same classic BioWare “good guy carrying old grief at a party” foundation.

Then there is Alice Charroux, the second departure' Battle buddies confirmed. Sounds like Alice departure's answer Mass Effect 2Zaid Masani is more than anyone else. He's a goofy, battle-tested mercenary whose loyalty seems to mean moving forward rather than standing behind the player. There are traces of Mass Effect 2Who Jack is also in his criminal background, but based on his current description alone, Alice is used to build a very practical definition of the first and foremost friend Bioware, like scars, firepower, and faith.

CC Orlev is one of the Exodus story companions

CC Orlev probably is departure The friend is familiar to most fans, as he is voiced by none other than Matthew McConaughey and has been at the forefront of the game's marketing materials. However, unlike Tom and Alice, CC is one departure' story companions, which, again, probably means he's more for story purposes than gameplay. Much of CC's backstory is shrouded in mystery, but based on what has already been revealed about him, he seems close. Dragon Ageof Flemeth.

Flemeth is a legendary figure surrounded by rumor, fear, myth, and uncertainty, and BioWare often uses him as a character who appears at critical moments, making it difficult to pin down his true purpose. CC Orlev's description makes him very similar to Flemeth, in that everyone knows the myth, no one fully knows where he went and why, and he appears when June, the game's protagonist, needs him most. have a glimpse of Mass EffectThere's also the Elusive Man, simply because he fits that useful but questionable archetype.

Several other exit companions have been confirmed, but remain a mystery

Except for Tom, Alice and CC, the officer departure The website also shows 8 other companion characters, of which 4 are already named and 4 are not. Unlike Tom, Elise, and CC, however, none of them have bios, so there's currently no information about who they are, where they come from, or what their ultimate goals might be.

Exodus Other confirmed companions

• Octopus salt

• Phaedra

• Solomon

• Amris

• Four anonymous story friends

for now, departure Still only giving players pieces of its companion roster, but those pieces already say a little if you know how to read them. Tom, Alice, and CC Orlev each feel like they've gone from grieving survivors who seem to know more than they're letting on to a familiar type of BioWare companion to a tough mercenary. That doesn't mean any of them are perfect copies, but it makes the comparison hard to ignore, especially when departure Already wearing a lot of it Mass Effect Inspiration on its sleeve.

What's important now is that Archetype can turn those familiar outlines into characters that players actually care about. BioWare's best friend characters have never been more memorable than how capable they were in battle because they brought meaningful, often complicated relationships along the journey. If departure With Tom, Alice, CC, and the rest of its still-hidden roster, it could be one of the clearest signs its peers have inherited more than just a spiritual heir. Mass Effectof surface-level vibes.

issued

2027

developer(s)

Archetype entertainment

publisher(s)

Wizards of the Coast

Number of players

single player

Steam Deck compatibility

unknown