New *Exodus* gameplay is here! This volcanic ruins segment is pretty intense.

Recently, the promotional buildup for Exodus has clearly accelerated. Following last week’s release of footage featuring a frigid planet and alien ruins, the developers have now shifted the camera straight into a sweltering, highly oppressive underground volcanic ruin, instantly establishing the game’s ecological range. One is a frozen unknown, the other a lava-filled dead end. This approach of consecutively throwing out sharply contrasting environments feels a lot like rapidly switching track settings in a racing game, with only one core purpose: to tell players in advance that this cosmic adventure won’t be monotonous.

In this new gameplay segment, players control the protagonist Aslan Jun as he ventures deep into a scorching underground area alongside his companions. More important than simply showing off the scenery this time is that it clearly introduces a key gameplay feature—the new gauntlet skill, “Volcanic Eruption,” makes its official debut. It’s not just a flashy move meant purely for visual spectacle; it’s directly tied to movement, puzzle-solving, and terrain manipulation. Especially when it comes to avoiding dangerous lava and finding safe routes, it looks highly practical.

Judging from the demo footage, the design of “Volcanic Eruption” is quite smart. It can use limestone deposits to build bridges, redirect lava flows, and clear obstacles blocking the way, effectively packaging what would traditionally be separate functions in action-adventure games—path-clearing, traversal, and environmental interaction—into one highly recognizable skill. For players, the biggest concern with this kind of ability is when it looks cool in trailers but turns into repetitive button-mashing in actual gameplay. But if Exodus can keep introducing variations around different terrains, then it has a real chance to develop a rhythm of its own.

One thing I particularly value is the sense of “world layering” that Exodus has shown so far. Last week it was a frozen planet, and this week it jumps to volcanic ruins, which suggests the developers don’t intend to rely solely on a sci-fi shell as the main selling point. Instead, they seem to want to use extreme ecosystems to drive the exploration experience. Combined with the official descriptions mentioning diverse ecological landscapes, exciting combat, and terrifying powerful enemies like Mara Mountain, it’s clear the game is aiming for more than a standard linear stage-by-stage experience. It’s going for an adventure atmosphere that places greater emphasis on immersion and the vast depth of the universe.

If you’re a fan of action-adventure games and sci-fi settings, Exodus is already worth adding to your watchlist for next year. The reason is simple: at this stage, its most appealing aspect isn’t combat alone, but the way environmental mechanics and combat abilities are beginning to interact. That often has more impact on a game’s longevity than simply piling on visual effects. Of course, whether it truly delivers will depend on the full gameplay showcase set to be revealed this summer, especially whether the continuous combat, level density, and skill loop are solid enough.

What can already be confirmed is that Exodus will launch next year on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. For players still on the fence, my advice is: don’t be too quick to put it on a pedestal, but don’t rush to write it off either. Keep your eyes on that full presentation this summer. If the volcanic stage isn’t just a “staged wow moment” but can genuinely tie together exploration, combat, and terrain transformation, then this game could very well become one of next year’s standout contenders in the sci-fi action lane.