Players were alarmed by the news of studio head James Ohlen's departure. Concerns regarding the development stability and the final quality of Exodus — a project dubbed the spiritual successor to Mass Effect — prompted the industry veteran to issue a statement. Ohlen emphasized that the game is "in very good shape" and remains "in the hands of proven professionals," including former Mass Effect developers from BioWare.
According to Ohlen, the decision to step down was made last summer and was driven by a desire to avoid professional burnout. After more than six years of working on the AAA project, balancing creative and managerial tasks, he felt the timing was right to hand over leadership. He also noted that the departure was by mutual agreement with Hasbro, and he maintains a good relationship with the team while continuing to consult on the brand's projects.
I am staying with Wizards of the Coast as a creative consultant, but I will be working more in the field of tabletop RPGs. Right now, I am focused on what brings me the most pleasure: storytelling and world-building.
Despite the change in leadership, the world and story of Exodus are still being handled by Drew Karpyshyn — the writer of Mass Effect and Star Wars: KOTOR. The release of the game, featuring Matthew McConaughey, is scheduled for early 2027.