Chris Sides, former director of product management for Marathon, criticized the term "extraction shooter" during a recent episode of Shooter Monthly.
Criticism of Genre Label
Sides contends the label "extraction shooter" inaccurately captures the diversity of games in this category. Speaking on a podcast, he described it as "dumb" and "bad" since it focuses on a single mechanic rather than the games' broader identity.
- Chris Sides questioned the clarity of the term "extraction shooter."
- Sides has worked with Bungie, known for games like Marathon.
- He believes the genre lacks a clear identity for players.
Comparison Across Games
Sides noted how various games like Escape from Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown are labeled similarly, despite their significant differences. This lack of clear distinction makes it challenging for players to set expectations.
He also mentioned newer entries like Helldivers 2 and Arc Raiders fall under the same label although they differ greatly in gameplay and style.
Future for Marathon
Despite these criticisms, Bungie has decided to retain the label "extraction shooter" for Marathon. Sides hopes the company will eventually clarify the game's direction beyond this broad genre categorization.
This decision highlights an ongoing debate in the gaming industry about how to best capture and communicate a game's essence to players.
