Can Marathon Elevate Extraction Shooters to Mainstream Success?

Last month, EA laid off 300 employees, including about 100 from Respawn, the studio behind Apex Legends and Star Wars Jedi titles. Founded by former Call of Duty developers, Respawn was reportedly developing a third Titanfall game, rumored to be an extraction shooter—a challenging PvPvE genre with a niche following. This project, now canceled, could have thrust the genre into the spotlight. With EA out, who will push the “Tarkov-like” experience to mainstream audiences? The answer may arrive soon.

“To align with our long-term goals, we’ve restructured teams to optimize resources and drive growth,” an EA spokesperson stated regarding the layoffs at Respawn. This follows earlier cuts across EA’s portfolio, including Codemasters, BioWare, and 670 company-wide roles last March. Many now view the gaming industry as unsustainable, urging unionization.

The rumored Titanfall extraction shooter’s cancellation disappointed fans, who often joke about the series’ elusive next chapter. The buzz around a triple-A extraction shooter highlights a genre still finding its footing. Whether or not Respawn’s project was truly in this space, it’s sparking broader interest in its potential.

“This genre remains niche, yet to capture a mass audience,” says Mat Piscatella, Circana’s Video Games Industry Advisor, in an IGN interview.

Last month, Bungie unveiled gameplay for Marathon, an upcoming extraction shooter some believe could popularize the genre. Despite controversy over alleged art asset plagiarism, hands-on press feedback has been largely positive. Known for standout FPS titles like Halo and Destiny, Bungie faces a shifting market as Marathon launches in September. Can its pedigree and sharp FPS design ensure success? Analysts are cautiously optimistic.

“Bungie is the studio I’d bet on to bring this genre mainstream,” Piscatella notes.

Extraction shooters blend player-versus-player and player-versus-environment gameplay. Small teams enter a map, battle AI enemies and rival squads, gather resources, and escape. Popularized by Escape From Tarkov’s punishing, high-stakes combat, the genre gained traction during COVID-19 lockdowns.

“If I were to bet on any developer being able to bring this genre to the mass market it would be Bungie.”

Other studios have since explored the genre with mixed results. Helldivers 2, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Sony, stands out with its campy vibe, community focus, and co-op-only gameplay, avoiding the intense PvP of Tarkov. Per Piscatella, it ranked eighth on Steam and 34th on PlayStation in April.

“Helldivers 2 is the genre’s standout success,” Piscatella says. “About 9% of active U.S. Steam users and 3% of PS5 players engaged with it in April. No other extraction shooter exceeded 2.3% on any platform.”

These figures pale against giants like Fortnite, Call of Duty, and EA’s FC. Piscatella notes that emerging genres often need a breakout title to gain traction, citing Guitar Hero, Halo, and World of Warcraft as examples. Marathon could be that game for extraction shooters—or it might not. Success is never guaranteed.

Other notable extraction shooters include Deep Rock Galactic, Hunt: Showdown 1896, and Delta Force. The latter, a free-to-play title launched last year, has climbed to 15th in daily Steam players, with roughly 135,000 at peak. Still, it lags far behind battle royale giants. Publishers often chase proven genres like Fortnite and Warzone, potentially stifling innovation. Call of Duty’s brief, under-supported extraction mode in Warzone reflects this caution. Marathon, however, marks a bold triple-A push for the genre.

“Bungie’s reputation doesn’t guarantee Marathon’s success,” Piscatella cautions. “Winning over genre fans to spread the word will be key.”

Marathon’s biggest hurdle is the genre’s unproven nature. Bungie must ensure smooth onboarding, especially for FPS players familiar with Call of Duty, while nailing long-term engagement through gameplay that’s easy to learn but hard to master.

“The market is tough,” Piscatella adds. “Players stick to familiar, constantly updated, often free-to-play titles with strong social and monetary hooks. Marathon faces the same challenges as any new game.”

Despite a volatile market, Marathon’s challenge lies in the extraction shooter’s niche status. Escape From Tarkov thrived during lockdowns, appealing to hardcore gamers, but later titles have struggled, with Helldivers 2 as the exception. Studios hesitate to invest heavily in unproven genres when battle royales dominate. Marathon’s launch will test the genre’s viability. A strong reception could inspire others to follow Bungie’s lead, but monetization and market trends will play a role. With Bungie’s design expertise, Marathon has a shot at making extraction shooters mainstream. Come September, the industry will watch closely.