Can Marathon boost extraction shooters' popularity?

Late last month, gaming giant EA laid off 300 employees, including approximately 100 from developer Respawn Entertainment. Founded by former Call of Duty creators, Respawn is renowned for Apex Legends and the Star Wars Jedi series. Reports indicate the studio was developing a third Titanfall installment before staffing cuts led to its cancellation. Insiders suggest this project would have been an extraction shooter - a demanding PvPvE genre currently occupying niche popularity. Set in the Titanfall/Apex universe, this concept might have propelled the genre into mainstream recognition. With EA abandoning ship, attention now turns to who could elevate "Tarkov-like" experiences beyond their cult following. The answer may emerge sooner than expected.

"We've implemented strategic organizational changes to better align teams and resources toward our long-term growth priorities," an EA spokesperson commented regarding the Respawn layoffs. This echoes similar restructuring across EA's portfolio, including reductions at Codemasters and BioWare, following broader company-wide cuts affecting 670 employees last March. These developments have sparked discussions about industry instability and growing calls for unionization.

The Titanfall That Never Was

The rumored Titanfall extraction shooter's cancellation has disappointed fans who've endured years of memes about the franchise's mysterious future. More significantly, it highlights the untapped potential of a genre still searching for mass appeal. Whether or not Respawn's canceled project truly represented an extraction shooter, its speculation alone has generated fresh dialogue about this emerging game format.

"This remains an enthusiast genre that hasn't significantly penetrated mainstream gaming," observes Mat Piscatella, Video Games Industry Advisor at Circana, in conversation with IGN.

Marathon: Extraction Gaming's Hope?

Bungie recently unveiled gameplay for Marathon, their upcoming extraction shooter that some anticipate could mainstream the genre. Despite early controversy regarding alleged asset plagiarism, hands-on previews suggest promising gameplay - perhaps unsurprising given Bungie's pedigree with Halo and Destiny. However, launching in September presents unique challenges for this experimental genre.

"If any developer could popularize this genre, my money would be on Bungie," Piscatella remarks.

Understanding Extraction Shooters

For newcomers, extraction shooters blend PvP and PvE mechanics. Teams infiltrate hostile environments, completing objectives while fighting AI and rival players before attempting extraction. Escape From Tarkov pioneered this brutal high-stakes formula, gaining traction during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Subsequent attempts have yielded mixed results. Helldivers 2 stands as the genre's breakout success, ranking eighth on Steam and 34th on PlayStation in April according to Circana data. Its cooperative focus differentiates it from Tarkov's punishing PvP.

"Helldivers 2 represents the exception," notes Piscatella. "No other extraction shooter has surpassed 2.3% player engagement on any platform."

The Genre's Growing Pains

Current engagement metrics pale against established genres like battle royale. Piscatella draws historical parallels: "Niche genres often explode after one breakthrough title - Guitar Hero for rhythm games, Halo for console FPS, WoW for MMOs. Marathon could potentially do this for extraction shooters."

Other notable extraction shooters include Deep Rock Galactic, Hunt: Showdown 1896, and the rising free-to-play Delta Force (currently peaking at 135,000 Steam players). Yet these numbers hardly compete with genre giants like Fortnite or Call of Duty.

Marathon's Make-or-Break Moment

Industry fixation on proven monetization models has created reluctance toward experimental genres like extraction shooters. In this context, Marathon represents AAA's first serious attempt to popularize the format.

"Bungie's involvement doesn't guarantee success," cautions Piscatella. "Converting core FPS players through accessible onboarding and maintaining retention through compelling gameplay will be crucial."

The ultimate challenge remains market unpredictability. "Existing favorites with strong social hooks and free-to-play accessibility dominate attention," Piscatella explains. "Marathon faces the same hurdles as any new title in today's saturated market."

Beyond market factors, extraction shooters' unproven nature presents Marathon's greatest obstacle. While Tarkov benefited from pandemic circumstances and hardcore appeal, subsequent attempts (minus Helldivers 2) have shown limited traction - explaining publisher hesitance.

Marathon's September launch will serve as an industry litmus test. Should Bungie succeed where others hesitated, expect rival studios to follow suit. Numerous variables - monetization strategies, market timing, gameplay innovation - will determine outcome. But with Bungie's reputation for shooter excellence, they're uniquely positioned to potentially revolutionize this growing genre. Whatever the result, the gaming world will be watching closely.