Marathon Aims to Mainstream Extraction Shooters

In late May, EA terminated approximately 300 employees, including nearly 100 from acclaimed studio Respawn Entertainment. Known for Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi series, Respawn - founded by former Call of Duty developers - was allegedly developing a new Titanfall installment before the workforce reduction. Though officially canceled, industry reports suggest this project was an extraction shooter - a deliberately challenging PvPvE hybrid that remains a niche genre. A Titanfall-themed extraction shooter could have propelled the format into mainstream recognition. With EA abandoning this potential, the question remains: which developer will elevate extraction shooters beyond their current enthusiast following? The answer may emerge within months.

EA's Strategic Restructuring Impacts Titanfall

"As we prioritize long-term strategic goals, we've implemented organizational changes to better align teams and allocate resources for future growth," an EA spokesperson stated regarding the Respawn layoffs. This announcement echoes similar restructuring across EA's portfolio, affecting Codemasters, BioWare, and culminating in 670 company-wide job cuts in March 2023. These developments have sparked debates about industry sustainability and growing calls for unionization.

The rumored Titanfall extraction shooter's cancellation has disappointed fans, particularly given the franchise's cult following. This development also spotlights a genre struggling to achieve mainstream adoption. Regardless of Respawn's specific plans, the discussion surrounding this cancellation has increased awareness of extraction shooters' untapped potential.

Bungie's Marathon: A Potential Genre Breakthrough

Mat Piscatella, Video Games Industry Advisor at Circana, observes, "This remains an enthusiast genre that hasn't significantly penetrated the mass market." Bungie's upcoming Marathon, an extraction shooter revealed last month, could change this dynamic. Despite early controversy regarding alleged asset plagiarism, hands-on previews have generated positive buzz - perhaps unsurprising given Bungie's pedigree with Halo and Destiny.

"If any developer can mainstream this genre, it would be Bungie," Piscatella notes. Extraction shooters typically combine PvP and PvE elements, dropping squads into hostile environments where they complete objectives, gather resources, and attempt extraction. Originally popularized by Escape From Tarkov's punishing high-risk gameplay during pandemic lockdowns, the genre has seen mixed success in subsequent iterations.

Helldivers 2: The Current Genre Standout

Helldivers 2, Arrowhead's 2023 release, represents the genre's most notable success. Differing from Tarkov's intense PvP focus, Helldivers 2 emphasizes cooperative play, satirical themes, and community-driven events. According to Circana data, it ranked eighth on Steam and 34th on PlayStation in April, engaging 9% of active Steam users and 3% of PS5 players in the US. "No other extraction shooter exceeded 2.3% player engagement on any platform," Piscatella clarifies.

While these figures pale compared to battle royale titles, Piscatella emphasizes the genre's nascent potential: "Developing genres often require one breakthrough title. Guitar Hero revolutionized rhythm games, Halo transformed console FPS, and WoW redefined MMOs. Could Marathon do the same for extraction shooters?"

Genre Challenges and Market Realities

The extraction shooter field includes titles like Deep Rock Galactic, Hunt: Showdown 1896, and the free-to-play Delta Force - currently ranking 15th in daily Steam players. However, these pale beside battle royale juggernauts, leading many publishers to prioritize proven, high-monetization genres. This conservatism may explain why Call of Duty's extraction mode remained a Warzone add-on rather than a standalone release.

"Marathon faces no guaranteed success," Piscatella cautions. "To break through, it must engage genre enthusiasts who can advocate for it, while offering accessible onboarding for mainstream FPS players. That 'easy to learn, hard to master' balance is crucial."

The gaming market's current volatility presents additional hurdles. "Players have entrenched favorites with strong social and monetization hooks, many free-to-play. Marathon's challenges mirror those facing any new release in this climate," Piscatella observes.

As a AAA pioneer in this space, Marathon's September launch will serve as an industry litmus test. Should it succeed, expect major publishers to follow Bungie's lead. While numerous variables - from monetization to market trends - will influence outcomes, Bungie's design expertise positions Marathon as the genre's potential breakout title. The gaming world will watch closely this fall to see if extraction shooters can finally achieve mainstream adoption.