Exodus Studio Head James Ohlen Steps Down: What It Means for Gamers

A New Chapter for Exodus

Just when we were getting pumped about the new trailer for Exodus that dropped at The Game Awards, we got a surprising twist—James Ohlen, the head honcho over at Archetype Entertainment, decided to hang up his boots. Yup, you read that right! He feels like his work on the game has reached its grand finale.

In the ever-changing universe of gaming, this news is juicier than a secret level in your favorite RPG. Ohlen, who spent 22 years at BioWare and was a crucial part of gaming legends like Baldur’s Gate and Anthem, made quite the name for himself. He took the wheel at Wizards of the Coast in 2019, steering the ship for a project that has gotten everyone buzzing: Exodus.

Who’s Taking Over?

Now, here’s where it gets even more interesting. Along with Ohlen’s departure comes Paul Della Bitta, a gaming giant with experience at Blizzard and Riot Games, stepping in to head Wizards of the Coast’s Digital Ventures division. It’s like the Avengers of video games assembling on a new mission! Della Bitta is expected to bring some serious skills, but the spotlight is clearly on Ohlen and what this means for Exodus.

For the time being, James has plans to shift his focus to tabletop games (because why not?), but he will still be hanging around as a creative consultant. It’s good to know he’s not completely leaving the party. Still, it’s a bummer for fans who were hoping he’d see Exodus through to its release, which is expected in early 2027—a whole eternity away in gamer years!

While it’s a bit of a letdown to see such a seasoned creator step back just as things are heating up, we’ve got faith in the team. Let’s hope they keep up the momentum and polish this game to perfection! Keep your controllers charged; this ride is just getting started!