Exodus Sex Scenes: How Do They Compare to Mass Effect?

As a devoted Mass Effect fan who has romanced nearly every companion, I was curious about the romantic encounters in Exodus, especially since it bears a striking resemblance to BioWare's beloved sci-fi series and is crafted by some of the same creative minds. During gamescom, I had the chance to chat with game director Chris King, narrative director Drew Karpyshyn, and general manager Chad Robertson about the game, and I was particularly interested in the intimate details. My first question was obvious: Can you get cozy with the octopus?

Exodus features a variety of companions, including non-human ones like Salt, an Awakened octopus who pilots a combat mech and uses ink-like smokescreens to disorient foes. She resides in a tank to survive battles. Unfortunately for some, romance with Salt is off the table. Karpyshyn confirmed, "Sadly no romance with Salt. And that's mostly because Salt just thinks humans are gross. We've only got four limbs. She's like, that's weird!"

While Salt is a no-go, Exodus offers plenty of romance options without gender restrictions. Romances require active pursuit, so you won't stumble into them accidentally. They can also stir up drama among companions depending on your choices. Karpyshyn noted, "You're not going to be able to keep everybody happy. You're not going to be able to get everyone to go and change the way you want to. Just like real life, we want it to be messy and complicated."

Given the M rating, some might expect explicit content, but Exodus takes a more measured approach. "They're very tastefully done," Karpyshyn teased, with King adding, "We allow you to get physical, but they're tastefully done." Karpyshyn elaborated, "Across the industry there's different bars that are set, and I would say we're somewhere in the appropriate middle."

What does that middle ground look like? Baldur's Gate 3 includes nudity and even allows romance with an octopus-like entity, while Cyberpunk 2077 pulls no punches. Mass Effect, however, keeps its scenes brief and never explicit. Exodus seems to follow suit. King explained, "I think we're a bit closer to the reserved side, but certainly it's clear what's happening, but tasteful is a good way to describe it."

So, no romance with Salt, but who can you pursue? Companions like Elise Charroux, a blunt Sleeper from 23rd-century Earth; Kara Voss, a skilled pilot and mechanic; and Suliman, a wealthy and dangerous operative, are all likely popular choices. Houston, an Awakened wolf raised alongside protagonist Jun, is off the table—romancing a talking wolf who acts as a sibling would be strange on many levels.

Exodus launches on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on April 7, 2027.