Exodus RPG Will Limit Character Customization to Curated Options, Disappointing Some Fans

EXODUS, the upcoming sci-fi RPG from Archetype Entertainment, will limit character customization to curated options for its protagonist, Jun, rather than offering a full character creator. Players will be able to choose Jun's gender, hairstyle, facial hair, hair color, eye color, makeup, and tattoos, but cannot alter Jun's face or use detailed facial or body sliders. This decision has sparked disappointment among fans who were hoping for more extensive customization.

Archetype Entertainment explained that this approach was chosen to give Jun a more defined identity and to support advanced facial animation through performance capture. The technology is intended to deliver more expressive emotions during dialogue, but it comes at the cost of reducing the variety of possible appearances. The studio has stated that more examples of Jun's customization — including the female version — will be revealed in the coming months.

"Our customization feature set is focused on curated options rather than a full slider-based character creator. This means Jun will have a more established look, with options including hairstyles, facial hair, hair colour, eye colour, makeup, and tattoos," the developers explained.

Exodus is scheduled to launch in early 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. An extended gameplay demonstration was shown at the Future Games Show in June 2026, offering a deeper look at the game's universe and mechanics.

Beyond the video game, Archetype Entertainment is expanding the Exodus universe with new lore books and a tabletop RPG. Exodus Chronicles of Melayu, a sourcebook for the official tabletop system, is now available for pre-order and will release in October 2026. Buyers of the physical edition will receive a free digital PDF copy on release day. The Chronicles of Melayu will be one of three core books for the tabletop line, alongside the Traveler Handbook and Creature Catalog.

The universe is also being explored in literature: The Helium Sea, a new science fiction novel by Peter F. Hamilton, recently concluded the story begun in The Archimedes Engine. For those interested in the setting, a free excerpt from The Archimedes Engine is available on the official Exodus website.

Archetype Entertainment, which includes BioWare veterans like lead writer Drew Karpyshyn, hopes Exodus will launch a new franchise spanning video games, tabletop RPGs, and novels. While the limited character creator has drawn criticism, the developers are betting on a strong narrative and a richly developed universe to win over players.

Would you play a tabletop RPG set in the Exodus universe before the video game itself releases?