The Case for Bethesda to Reinvent Brink as a Modern Shooter

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Bethesda is well-known for popular game series like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. However, some of their greatest games weren’t actually made by Bethesda, but rather published by them. Titles like Doom, Wolfenstein, and Dishonored all benefited from Bethesda’s publishing support, and there’s one particularly fantastic game they published that deserves a revival: Brink.

Though it launched in 2011, the online shooter Brink hasn’t technically disappeared. The game servers are still running, but the player base has shrunk to just a handful of dedicated fans – around ten at the time of this writing. Many newer gamers aren’t even familiar with the title. Developed by Splash Damage, Brink showed promise, but a combination of unfortunate timing and a feeling of being incomplete compared to other games at the time ultimately led to its decline. It became known as one of the most disappointing games of the 2010s. However, there’s still potential for Bethesda and Splash Damage to revive the game by updating it to fit today’s gaming trends.

Brink Has the Potential to Come Back From the Brink of Extinction

Back in the day, Brink aimed to redefine first-person shooters, and it actually did in several ways. One of its most notable innovations was the SMART movement system – a simple, one-button parkour mechanic that let players navigate levels with greater fluidity. While parkour and smooth movement are common in games now – titles like Titanfall 2, Fortnite, and The Finals all feature similar mechanics – Brink was one of the first to really explore this kind of movement system.

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Brink’s Other Key Features

  • Blending single-player and multiplayer, with the former’s squad being filled with bots.
  • Much heavier focus on classes with four different options: Soldiers, Engineers, Medics, and Operatives.
  • Three different body types to choose from.
  • Emphasis on objectives and teamwork instead of kill count.

While many popular games from the 2000s are still celebrated, Brink is one that often gets overlooked. Many features it introduced are common in shooting games today, but Brink was unique in how it let players customize their character’s body type, similar to Team Fortress 2. Players could choose between Heavy, Medium, or Light builds, which impacted gameplay. Heavies were slow but could use any weapon, Lights were fast and agile but had less health and limited weapon choices, and Mediums offered a balance between the two. Splash Damage experimented with some innovative ideas, and Brink‘s groundbreaking approach is just one reason it deserves another look.

Brink officially went free-to-play on Steam in 2017.

Brink’s Story and Setting Could Be the Perfect Foundation to Build an Extraction Shooter On

One of the most compelling parts of the game Brink was its backstory. While not overly complex, the world had a lot of interesting possibilities. The game takes place on the Ark, an artificial island built as a model of sustainability. But as the world faced worsening climate change and continents were flooded, the Ark became one of the last safe places for people. This influx of refugees created tension with the original inhabitants, and as resources dwindled and social divisions grew, the island descended into a civil war between two groups: the Resistance and Ark Security. Many post-apocalyptic games feel similar, but Brink offered a distinctive take on humanity’s potential downfall.

Why an Extraction Shooter?

While a remake of Brink as a battle royale might still be fun, that type of game is losing popularity. Even Fortnite, a hugely successful battle royale, recently saw a drop in players, which led to layoffs at Epic Games. It seems the gaming world is shifting towards ‘extraction shooters’ instead. ARC Raiders was a big success last year, and Marathon, which recently launched, is also doing well.

While games like ARC Raiders and Marathon are getting attention, many players are still getting used to the extraction shooter style. The genre isn’t crowded yet, which gives Bethesda and Splash Damage a good opportunity to become leaders in it. They’d need to make some big changes to how the game plays, and that would take time, but it’s definitely possible.

Brink Getting a New Lease on Life is Ultimately a Pipe Dream

While opinions on the game were mixed, Brink introduced some innovative ideas that have influenced later titles. A return to the game seems unlikely, though, as Splash Damage is currently focused on a new project called Project Astrid. Details about Astrid are scarce, but it’s known to be an open-world survival game created in collaboration with well-known streamers Sacriel and Shroud. Splash Damage has been very quiet about the project since it was first announced. The studio did experience layoffs recently, and it’s uncertain how that might have impacted the game’s progress.

It’s possible Project Astrid could be a continuation of the story from the game Brink, but we’ll have to wait and see. Splash Damage has hinted at exciting, immersive gameplay with a strong narrative, something similar to what you find in extraction shooters like ARC Raiders and Marathon. However, that’s probably just hopeful speculation. For now, Brink remains an FPS with interesting concepts that weren’t fully developed. The good news is the game is still running and free to play, even if you mostly end up playing against computer-controlled opponents.

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2026-04-08 19:06