Former Bungie developer Chris Sides has referred to as out the time period “extraction shooter,” saying it is a “horrible” style identify as a result of it does not inform the participant what to anticipate from the sport.
Speaking on the Shooter Month-to-month podcast, the previous director of product on Bungie’s upcoming Marathon did not maintain again, stressing that with so many distinct video games doubtlessly falling beneath the umbrella of “extraction shooter,” gamers will discover it laborious to know “what you are going to get.”
“The issue is Helldivers 2 will be referred to as an extraction shooter, however it’s not. The style identify is so unhealthy,” Sides stated (thanks, TheGamePost). “I hate the style identify of ‘extraction shooter.’ After I was engaged on Marathon, I used to be working with advertising, dying to be like, ‘Can we please create a special style identify, as a result of extraction shooter is so dumb.’ It is the one style the place its identify is a mechanic.
“Extraction is the mechanic to get out. Helldivers 2, is that an extraction shooter since you extract? No. It is not like Tarkov in any respect. So the terminology of the style is already horrible. It makes it actually laborious to match these video games. It is why Enviornment Breakout and Tarkov, you possibly can sort of have a look at it as a result of they’re each extraction shooters and so they sort of match the identical mildew. Evaluating Arc Raiders to Tarkov simply does not actually match. Evaluating Arc Raiders to perhaps like a Rust may match, after which Rust… is that an extraction as a result of it is survivor? It is an issue. I can’t stand the identify of it.
“So I feel that if you say the extraction style, it ought to hit your spot, I feel it is actually the truth that the style does not even know what it’s. So that you as a participant, how are you aware what what you are going to get? And I feel that is one of many actual points with the style itself.”
It is properly value listening to the podcast, the place Sides is joined by different shooter builders in an attention-grabbing dialogue in regards to the extraction shooter style usually, in addition to the issue with the way it’s named. They talk about every thing from Marathon to Arc Raiders and Helldivers 2 to Escape from Tarkov.
Whereas the time period ‘extraction shooter’ could also be problematic, in accordance with Sides, it hasn’t held again the efficiency of Arc Raiders, which developer Embark Studios describes as a “multiplayer extraction journey,” versus an extraction shooter. It bought 4 million copies in lower than two weeks, with a peak concurrent participant rely of 700,000.
As for Marathon, it was just lately delayed out of 2025 and into 2026 as Bungie works to answer suggestions from playtests. Bungie describes Marathon as a “team-based extraction shooter.”
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, in addition to a critic, columnist, and guide with 15+ years expertise working with among the world’s largest gaming websites and publications. She’s additionally a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually Excessive Chaos. Discover her at BlueSky.