Extraction shooters have become incredibly popular over the last decade, quickly becoming a common type of game. Many developers are now trying their hand at the genre, and we’ve seen these games take place in a variety of settings, from ruined cities and war zones to outer space.
Not everyone is a fan of this game type. Some find it difficult to get into, and it can discourage players from trying it. Others feel it’s become too common lately. In fact, a former Bungie director who worked on the game Marathon recently called the genre’s label ‘silly’ and ‘awful’.
What’s Wrong With ‘Extraction Shooter’?
Chris Sides, a former Product Manager at Bungie (2020-2024) who worked on the game Marathon, recently revealed on a podcast that he dislikes the term “extraction shooter” to describe the genre.
I really dislike the term ‘extraction shooter’ as a genre name. When I was developing Marathon, I tried to convince the marketing team to come up with something else, because ‘extraction shooter’ just doesn’t make sense. It’s unique in that the genre’s defining feature is the mechanic it’s named after.
(Thanks to TGP for the quote)
Sides pointed out that games like Helldivers 2 share similar gameplay elements but aren’t considered ‘extraction shooters.’ He emphasized that it’s the specific formula of an extraction shooter that defines the genre, and it’s inaccurate to label drastically different games with the same categorization.
I totally get what he’s saying about ARC Raiders and Escape from Tarkov – it’s not really a fair comparison, and he’s right! They’re just completely different games in terms of gameplay and what they’re trying to achieve. The only real thing they have in common is that extraction element, where you’re trying to get in, get loot, and get out safely.
It’s just frustrating. I really dislike the way this genre is labeled. Ideally, when you think of this type of game, you should have a clear idea of what to expect. But the problem is, the genre itself doesn’t seem well-defined. As a player, it’s hard to know what you’re actually going to get, and that’s a major flaw with the genre as a whole.
Here’s the full episode of the Shooter Monthly podcast that features Sides:
Later in the podcast, Sides revealed that Bungie had been following the development of ARC Raiders by Embark Studios. He noted the game had ‘improved significantly’ since Bungie initially looked to it for ideas when working on Marathon.
ARC Raiders is a team-focused shooter where players cooperate and rely on each other. It uses features like nearby voice chat, lasting squads, quick communication through emotes, and a pinging system to encourage teamwork. This approach is similar to the game Marathon, and Bungie, the game’s developer, has officially described it as a ‘social extraction shooter’.
Does the term ‘extraction shooter’ sound off to you? I’d love to hear your thoughts – join the discussion on the TopMob Discord server!
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2025-11-11 10:18