First look at Exodus gameplay gives next-gen Mass Effect vibes

The game was first revealed at last year's The Game Awards and was notable forstarring Matthew McConaughey in his first video game role.

A year later and we finally have a better idea of how exactly it will play, thanks to a new gameplay trailer (below) - it's got alien planets, third-person space shooting, and a very very angry bear.

In short, it's looking a lot likeMass Effectrunning on current platforms: from its shooter gameplay to its sci-fi aesthetic and narrative focus.

That's not surprising considering the studio's BioWare pedigree. This is the debut game fromArchetype Entertainment, co-founded by BioWare veterans James Ohlen (Baldur's Gate,Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic,Dragon Age: Origins) and Chad Robertson (Anthem).

The game will be published by Wizards of the Coast.

Further details on Exodus were provided in a livestream following the trailer's reveal with both Ohlen and Robertson.

In particular, details on its setting were shared. It takes place in a post-Earth exodus scenario (hence the name, presumably), where humanity has explored star systems and created advanced civilisations, as well as genetically modified creatures. That explains the bear, then.

There's competition between the human colonies, too, creating a web of various relationships and alliances players will need to navigate.

A key element will be Livestone, a hybrid of mineral and vegetation created by the Celestials that can be controlled by certain humans - I'm guessing the player protagonist will be one of them.

Time dilation is also a major focus, with the passage of time moving at different speeds across the universe. For instance, players will make personal and civilisational choices in their journey to other star systems, and while this may only be weeks for their character their homeworld will be significantly changed once they return due to differences in time.

Missions will be led with two companions - and yes, there will be romance.

We still don't know, though, who Matthew McConaughey will be playing.

So if you're done withDragon Age: The Veilguardand you're itching for some space adventure ahead of the next Mass Effect game, Exodus should have you covered.

That said, Exodus still doesn't have a release date. However, there's athemed episode in Amazon's Secret Level series.

As for the next Mass Effect, project directorMichael Gamble said it won't feature stylised visualslike the latest Dragon Age. "Mass Effect is photorealistic and will be as long as I'm running it," he said.