All articles tagged with #extraction shooter
Bungie announced Vault Breaker, Marathon's new PvE mode that sends players into Cryo Archive’s endgame vaults with solo, duo, or crew options. Unlike typical extraction shooters, loot isn’t kept on exfil; instead players earn Vault Data to upgrade Sponsored Kits, providing PvE progression without flooding the economy with Cryo loot.
Mistfall Hunter’s free open beta is live on PS5, pairing Gothic Soulslike combat with loot-and-extraction mechanics. You can play solo or with friends, cross-play is supported, and the full game launches July 30. The beta weighs just under 36GB.
Activision and Infinity Ward unveiled DMZ, the next evolution of Call of Duty’s extraction shooter, launching with Modern Warfare 4 on October 23, 2026. The mode adds persistent inventories, an upgradable Forward Operating Base, a 3D printer for loot, cash-based weapon building, and a living map with dynamic AI, Lieutenants, and exfil-based rewards. It supports solo or squad play, includes a tourniquet revive, a stealth meter, and refined proximity chat for a more accessible yet deep experience. Available across Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, Steam, Battle.net, and Nintendo Switch 2, with Xbox Play Anywhere; Vault Edition pre-orders unlock skins and bonuses.
From June 2–9, Marathon is free to play on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, with progress saving if you buy the game for $40; PS5 online doesn’t require PS Plus. The free window coincides with Season 2, which adds Night Marsh, a new Sentinel Runner shell, and other features, while inventories are wiped to level the field. Season 2 also introduces Cradle to level the Runner shell stats independently of faction progression, faster faction progression, a larger Vault, and several QoL improvements.
Bungie says Marathon’s story direction is mapped out for years, but will remain open to player input and shaped by the community; the live-service shooter will use seasonal entry points so new players can jump in anytime while uncovering Tau Ceti’s past, following positive reception after a recent mid-season update (despite grenade issues).
Insider Gaming reports Haven Studios’ latest pre-alpha test of FairGames (codename espresso) centers on an extraction-shooter mode called Cargo Heist with three-team play and grappling/wall-running, but testers say movement, NPCs, and the class system feel unfinished and the game isn’t yet fun; industry chatter suggests extraction shooters remain a niche and FairGames faces tough competition from titles like Den of Wolves, with PlayStation watching the market.
A Forbes report claims Halo is reportedly considering an extraction shooter, a loot‑and‑exfiltration genre, suggesting a potential new direction for the franchise; specifics remain unconfirmed and there has been no official confirmation.
Insider Gaming reports Haven Studios’ upcoming game Fairgames will lean into an extraction shooter, featuring a dedicated mode called Cargo Heist with a Break In–Drill–Extract loop. Despite PlayStation backing and an upcoming playtest, the project has faced development challenges and leadership turnover, fueling questions about its fun factor and monetization as it competes with other heist games like Den of Wolves.
Arc Raiders, Embark Studios’ late‑year extraction shooter, has unexpectedly become a social experiment: while the game is built around high‑stakes PvP, many players cooperate, talk through proximity chat, and even ally to fight AI Arcs. About 30% pursue cooperation, 30% PvP, and 40% a mix; roughly one in five players never kills another raider. The Matriarch encounter can trigger instant cross‑squad teamwork, prompting developers to consider how to maintain challenge when players choose connection over conflict and drawing interest from criminologists and neurologists into the real‑world implications of these digital interactions.
Bungie’s Marathon (2026) mid-season update adds C.A.R.R.I., a system that rewards players who help others with salvaged packs and reputation boosts, introduces new deluxe weapon drops and shell cosmetics, and buffs the Recon shell’s pulse and tracker drone. It also nerfs a popular drone-claymore trick by restricting to one claymore per drone, reduces thermal sight range and ADS performance, adds solo-friendly depleted self-revive kits and a mercy revive kit, and tests a free sponsored-kit experimental mode—aimed at promoting cooperation and balancing the game’s tougher early encounters.
Bloomberg and others report Epic Games is developing a Disney-themed extraction shooter as part of a $1.5B collaboration with Disney, potentially launching in November 2026. The game reportedly resembles Arc Raiders in mechanics but would feature Disney characters, with it unclear whether it will be a standalone title or a new Fortnite mode. Internal reviews are said to be lukewarm, though the project is described as the most promising of the three in development, and both companies reiterate their ongoing partnership.
Rant Gaming, with Cor3, has revealed Fragmentary Order, a hardcore, space-based multiplayer FPS teased as “Escape from Tarkov in space.” Set in 2251 within a Solar System governed by the CORIE framework, players act as Replicated Entities deploying clone assets across space battlefields to complete contracts, scavenge resources, and extract. The game promises Tarkov-like depth—realistic weapon behavior, large maps, vehicles, extensive customization, and a neo-economic layer—alongside an ARG-driven path to early access, with a CGI trailer accompanying the announcement.
Epic Games and Disney are reportedly developing an Arc Raiders-style extraction shooter featuring Disney characters, aiming for release by the end of the year. Bloomberg sources say the gameplay may not be fully original, but optimism remains about the launch; the project stems from a broader Disney–Epic collaboration after Disney took a stake in Epic, as the company reorganizes after mass layoffs.
Marathon has sold roughly 1.2 million copies across Steam/PC, with about 217,000 on PS5 (roughly 19%), a performance viewed as soft for a high-budget live-service shooter. Bungie responded by affirming the game’s long-term commitment and ongoing improvements, though Sony ultimately holds the final say on continued support. The title has earned solid reviews and maintains a small, dedicated audience, but questions remain about its ability to recoup development costs and scale beyond its niche, leaving its long-term fate uncertain as updates continue.
Bungie’s Marathon nails the extraction-shooter loop with tight gunplay, immersive audio, and clever map gimmicks that reward map knowledge and exfiltration strategy, making it a polished, high-impact entry in the genre.