Extraction Shooter
Ongoing coverage on Extraction Shooter.
Latest coverage
Marathon Launch Review: Bungies extraction shooter is a hostile beast worth taming | VGC
Bungie's new extraction shooter, Marathon, is described as both alluring and unforgiving. The game presents a challenging experience within its genre.
Marathon Launch Review: Bungie’s extraction shooter is a hostile beast worth taming | VGC
Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, is described as a hostile but rewarding experience. The article touches on the broader gaming landscape, criticizing excessive negativity towards both live service and single-player titles, and uses examples like Destiny, God of War, and The Last of Us to illustrate points about game development and player reception.
ARC Radiers Takes Steps to Address AI-Related Voice Acting, Embark Issues Statement
Embark Studios has addressed controversy regarding AI voice acting in ARC Raiders, with studio head Patrick Söderlund clarifying their practices. Actors are compensated for their time and for the rights to license their voices for less essential audio, and the studio has re-recorded some lines with real actors to improve quality. Neil Newbom had previously commented on the issue.
Arc Raiders Boss Says Bungie Did a 'Really Good Job' Addressing Feedback After 'Heavily Criticized' Marathon Playtest - IGN
Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund praised Bungie for effectively addressing player feedback on their upcoming game Marathon. Söderlund noted that despite initial criticism of Marathon's technical test, the Bungie team rapidly improved the game, which he finds unusual and commendable. He also commented on the differences between Marathon and Embark's own game, Arc Raiders, highlighting Marathon's PvP focus.
Marathon Review – Runner’s High
Marathon offers an engaging extraction shooter experience with tight gunplay and a compelling mystery, despite some UI and reward system drawbacks. The game's rogue-like narrative structure and faction-based progression encourage repeated runs, even after significant gear loss. While not for everyone, its unique blend of tactical gameplay and unpredictable encounters makes it a fun, albeit punishing, experience.
Arc Raiders could one day get vehicles, but Embark says no promises: 'We have prototypes from seven years ago'
Embark Studios is considering adding vehicles to their extraction shooter Arc Raiders, though it is not currently in active development. Production director Caio Braga stated that while vehicles are not off the table, they are not a current priority, with prototypes existing from seven years ago.
Warhammer 40k: Darktide Beyond the Hive Update Brings Expeditions and More Next Week
Fatshark announced that the 'Beyond the Hive' update for Warhammer 40,000: Darktide will launch on March 17th. This update introduces a new Expeditions mode, described as the game's take on the extraction shooter genre, alongside new gear and enemies. The update will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Hands on: After 60 hours, Marathon is already one of my favorite shooters in years
After 60 hours of gameplay, Marathon is shaping up to be a standout extraction shooter with a stylish cyberpunk aesthetic and deep gameplay. The game offers diverse playstyles, from solo stealth to intense PvP encounters, and features a compelling narrative tied to player progression. While the user interface and audio can be inconsistent, the core experience is highly engaging and promises significant replayability.
Arc Raiders once had jump pads and the Snap Hook made you 'like Spider-Man' before its extraction shooter…
Arc Raiders underwent significant changes during development, shifting from a fast-paced, whimsical experience with jump pads to a more tactical PvPvE extraction shooter. Embark production director Caio Braga explained that these changes, including a 60% reduction in speed, were made to foster more strategic gameplay and align with a grounded tone. The Snap Hook mechanic, present since the beginning, was adapted to fit the new gameplay style.
Embark Studios head Patrick Söderlund explains how Arc Raiders was made on "a quarter of the budget" of a AAA title
Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund explains how the company aims to achieve AAA quality with significantly smaller teams and budgets, challenging conventional development wisdom. He highlights the use of efficient pipelines, procedural generation, and AI as production tools, while also discussing the studio's approach to the extraction shooter genre with Arc Raiders and addressing industry-wide layoffs. Söderlund plans for Embark to have four games on the market within five years without drastically increasing headcount.
Arc Raiders' old machine designs sound so diabolical, it's no wonder they were reworked or removed after poor playtest feedback: 'At that time, they didn't fit with the game very well'
Embark Studios' extraction shooter Arc Raiders underwent significant changes to its machine designs and AI due to poor playtest feedback. Production director Caio Braga discussed how enemies like Hornet, Sentinels, and Fireballs were reworked to be more understandable and balanced, with some original concepts being removed entirely because they did not fit the evolving game vision.
Marathon still hasn't unlocked its fourth zone, but this group of ARG hunters is working to change that - and they're on the cusp of something big
A dedicated group of players on Discord, known as Breachers of Tomorrow, are close to unlocking the Cryo Archive zone in Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon by solving its alternate reality game (ARG) puzzles. The community has successfully completed four out of seven puzzles, with the latest breakthrough involving deciphering a password and solving a digital maze. The ARG is building significant community engagement and mystery around the game's launch.
What We Played – Marathon, Toxic Commando & Monster Hunter Stories 3
Several gaming outlets shared their recent playtime, with Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection being highlighted as a strong entry in the series. Other titles frequently mentioned include Marathon, Toxic Commando, and Pokopia, with various staff members sharing their experiences across multiple genres like RPGs, shooters, and horror.
Can you play Marathon solo?
The article discusses the difficulty of playing extraction shooters solo, using Marathon as a specific example. It questions whether Marathon can be played effectively by a single player, given the genre's inherent challenges.
I like Arc Raiders, but Marathon made me fall in love with extraction shooters
The author expresses a fondness for the extraction shooter genre, particularly highlighting Marathon's neon aesthetic and engaging gunplay. While the author likes Arc Raiders, Marathon has solidified their love for the genre.
Marathon Guide – How To Scavenge Solo
This guide focuses on the ROOK Runner Shell for solo play in Marathon, an extraction shooter. It details the ROOK's abilities like 'Recuperation' and 'Signal Mask' which aid in health restoration and evading AI, making solo scavenging more viable. The guide also covers ROOK's advantages of starting mid-match and disadvantages like the inability to complete contracts, offering tactics for looting and extraction.
Marathon Is Amazing, So Why Does It Already Feel Like It’s in Trouble?
Despite positive reviews and engaging gameplay, Bungie's new extraction shooter Marathon has seen a significant drop in player count since its launch, falling far behind rivals like ARC Raiders. The article explores potential reasons for this decline, including pre-launch issues like delays, plagiarism accusations, and a problematic Server Slam weekend, as well as post-launch friction points such as difficult AI, a confusing UI, and unbalanced contracts.
Arc Raiders devs spent 3 years fighting "on a daily basis" over whether it was "a battle royale," "a hero looter shooter," "a co-op Soul game," or "a co-op Shadow of the Colossus game"
Developers at Embark Studios spent three years internally debating the core genre of Arc Raiders, with discussions ranging from battle royale to a co-op Shadow of the Colossus-like experience. After a significant reset and focusing on its foundation as an extraction shooter, the game has achieved significant commercial success, selling 14 million copies in its first three months.
Everything announced at FGS Live From GDC 2026
FGS Live From GDC Festival of Gaming 2026 showcased numerous game announcements, including world premieres and new trailers. Titles like Slash Zero, Yerba Buena, Project Songbird, and Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core were revealed, with many slated for PC and console releases in 2026. The event also featured developer interviews and updates on existing titles.
Co-op Shadow of the Colossus and hero looter shooter: the genres Arc Raiders devs' thought it was during development
During development, the genre of Arc Raiders was unclear, with team members considering it a battle royale, a co-op Shadow of the Colossus-like game, a hero looter shooter, or even a co-op Souls game. This lack of a defined genre allowed for creative freedom but also led to imbalances. Ultimately, the team reset and focused on the game they had, solidifying it as an extraction shooter.
