‘They Don’t Have The Balls To Do It Like Tarkov’: MADFINGER’s CEO on Extraction Shooters

As a seasoned gamer with a wealth of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the gaming industry is more competitive than ever before. With so many games vying for our attention, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to stand out from the crowd.

For over four months now, Gray Zone Warfare, developed by MADFINGER Games, has been warmly received. This groundbreaking tactical FPS offers a vast, engrossing environment, incorporating extract-shooter style gameplay mechanics, and a robust development pipeline designed to facilitate its continued growth into an epic experience

At Gamescom, I had the privilege of conversing with Marek Rabas, the CEO of MADFINGER, about the game his team has developed, upcoming developments for the title, and particularly, the current status of tactical and extraction shooter games

‘They Need a Bigger Market’

It’s no big secret that extraction shooters have been coming up in recent years. We’ve seen many titles come and go, and even titans like Activision have taken a stab at producing a game (or a bolt-on mode) that jimmies itself into the genre.

The trend is quickly moving towards monotony, but developers like MADFINGER are working diligently to change the norm. They aim to create something that’s both familiar yet distinctly different. That’s why Gray Zone Warfare feels so innovative and exciting – it veers more towards a tactical First-Person Shooter rather than sticking strictly to an extraction shooter genre

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There’s been an influx of new shooter games in the extraction genre, with many developers taking inspiration from Tarkov and creating titles like DMZ. However, large-scale developers lack the courage to replicate Tarkov’s formula directly due to market demands and audience size limitations, and they don’t fully grasp the core spirit of Tarkov
Many independent studios, including ours, recognized the potential in the genre of tactical shooters. However, large corporations have shifted their focus towards creating battle royale games, effectively diminishing some well-known brands such as Call of Duty, Ghost Recon, and various other titles

It’s a fair point. Many modern developers piecing together new extraction shooters are trying to make them more ‘arcadey’ and globally accessible, going so far as to introduce paid features that make the game a little easier.

Rabas contends that if individuals seek something more complex and tactically sound, their options are essentially limited to Tarkov, Arma, or Squad. However, these games come with certain constraints such as a daunting learning curve, aspects that deter casual players, or irritations like the necessity of having a second screen

In the case of Escape from Tarkov, if you’re not using additional screens to help with maps, market trackers, guides, or ballistics charts, it suggests that you are exceptionally skilled in the game, almost like a professional player

Rather than creating something entirely new in the tactical shooter market, some developers, such as MADFINGER, choose to satisfy the demand for this genre, and their approach has indeed shown to be effective

‘You Try To Be Different’

‘They Don’t Have The Balls To Do It Like Tarkov’: MADFINGER’s CEO on Extraction Shooters

More extraction shooters will inevitably surface, of course.

On the distant edge of your vision, there are titles such as Beautiful Light, Exoborne, Marathon, Delta Force, and what ARC Raiders eventually becomes. Lately, Arena Breakout Infinite has been launched, along with Level Zero: Extraction

That’s a sentiment that Rabas echoed:

More “extraction mining” devices will appear. Tencent isn’t foolish; they developed Arena (Infinite Breakout) for a reason. If players move on, fresh games will step in to take their place, so it’s essential to stand out
We opted for a session-structured approach instead of a match-based one, as it’s more about gaining experience than competing. Plus, we wanted to mix things up by setting the scenario in a jungle, since most focus on urban or forest settings from the West or East

Many will claim that Gray Zone Warfare is an extraction shooter by nature, but few have linked it to Escape from Tarkov. From the setting to the core military mechanics and from the unique gameplay loop to the mysterious backstory sitting at the heart of the map, there’s a lot to set GZW apart from Escape from Tarkov.

From my perspective, GZW gracefully balances multiple genres. It offers a non-harsh experience in the realm of extract shooters, and at the same time, it’s not overly intense or intricate as a tactical shooter. It leans towards military simulation but maintains a casual approach, and it introduces survival gameplay elements in a gentle manner

There’s a lot coming up regarding Gray Zone Warfare, so make sure you stay updated by checking out TopMob for the latest news on this game

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