The highly anticipated sci-fi game Exodus, crafted by a team of former Mass Effect veterans, currently isn’t incorporating any generative AI technology, though the developers remain open to adapting their stance down the line. Chad Robertson, a co-founder of Exodus studio Archetype and a familiar face from the Mass Effect series, shared with Eurogamer, “We don’t have plans to use generative AI for any elements of it, but we reserve the right to change that if things require it to meet the quality we need, or to fit our timeline or budget.” This conversation was sparked in part due to Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey, who lends his voice to the game, and his investments in audio tech company Elevenlabs. He’s made a deal that allows the firm to use AI to generate his voice in certain contexts.
In the broader conversation about AI in gaming, the creative lead from Arc Raiders noted, “We don’t use generative AI.” They mentioned how AI text-to-speech can aid in crafting “rich worlds” while keeping their studio streamlined, but emphasized there’s no intention to replace actors.
New Insights on Exodus: The upcoming RPG from ex-Mass Effect developers reportedly shares “some DNA” with BioWare’s iconic series, as well drawing inspiration from Sony’s Horizon and Nintendo’s Metroid.
In another corner of the gaming world, Fallout co-creator Leonard Boyarsky voiced some regret about his earlier comments regarding AI, noting that Obsidian isn’t employing AI in their projects at all.
Robertson was clear regarding the voice work in Exodus: “No, no. Everything that’s in Exodus—100 percent of what’s in Exodus—is bespoke VO recording just for us,” he explained. He clarified that McConaughey has a distinct arrangement with Elevenlabs involving AI, but that does not extend to generative voice lines for the game. The actor’s contributions come directly from his sessions in the recording booth.
As for Archetype’s future relationship with this emerging technology, Robertson emphasized, “We want to be smart technologists, and we want to make great games. If for cost or quality reasons, AI becomes more acceptable and commonplace, we’ll have to navigate that intelligently.” The studio’s philosophy clearly reflects a balance between innovation and artistic integrity.
With such strong foundations and clear goals, Exodus is definitely one to watch as it continues to develop.