BioWare veteran discusses burnout during development of RPG Exodus

James Ohlen, a former lead designer at BioWare who spent more than 22 years at the studio, has spoken candidly about the challenges and burnout he experienced during development of his latest sci-fi RPG, Exodus. Ohlen, best known for his work on Baldur’s Gate 2, left BioWare in 2018 to found Archetype Entertainment, where he began creating Exodus, a game often compared to Mass Effect.

Exodus is an ambitious RPG-shooter that uses time-dilation effects. This unique system lets players see the consequences of their choices unfold across different worlds and centuries. Wizards of the Coast, the game’s publisher, has said it hopes to use Exodus’ rich lore and worldbuilding as the foundation for new tabletop RPGs, trading card games, and possibly even film or TV spin-offs.

Development and challenges

Ohlen said that taking on the role of creative lead at a new studio while also building a new intellectual property took a heavy toll on him. He described the experience as “almost deadly” because of burnout. “As a creative person, you care about everything so much, and as studio head you’re constantly making compromises and defending your vision,” Ohlen said in a recent interview. He admitted he would not want to go through that again, as it is not healthy for him.

Despite the difficulties of working with Wizards of the Coast, including tough contract negotiations and bureaucratic hurdles, Ohlen remains determined to keep doing creative work. For now, however, he is focusing on writing a series of RPG adventure books with former BioWare creative director Jesse Sky. It seems unlikely that he will return to the world of video game startups anytime soon.

Funding and the future of Exodus

Wizards of the Coast is providing financial backing for Exodus, which is hugely important for the project’s development and is currently expected to launch in 2027. That means the game’s development spans a global pandemic, multiple presidential administrations, and potentially several console generations. Ohlen also said he was not comfortable moving forward without a “hotshot executive producer” to protect the creative side of development. That added even more stress and pressure throughout the process.

So far, no specific details have been revealed about Exodus’ gameplay or story elements, although the comparison to Mass Effect could create significant pressure to meet fan expectations.

Conclusion

The development of Exodus marks not only a new chapter for James Ohlen, but also for the RPG genre, with innovative gameplay elements and strong storytelling. It remains to be seen how the final release will be received, but Ohlen’s experience offers a valuable look at the challenges developers face in the competitive world of video games.