Ex-Marathon Director Slams 'Extraction Shooter' Genre Name
A former high-level developer at Bungie has sparked a major industry debate, calling the popular term “extraction shooter” a “terrible” and “so dumb” name for a genre. Chris Sides, who previously served as the game director for Bungie’s upcoming revival of *Marathon*, argues that the label fundamentally fails to communicate the actual player experience, reducing a complex and tense gameplay loop to a single, often anticlimactic, mechanic.
His pointed critique sheds new light on the internal discussions at the veteran studio and raises a critical question for the industry: has one of gaming’s most exciting new genres been saddled with a name that does it a profound disservice?
The Core of the Complaint: A Name Based on a Mechanic
Speaking on a recent podcast, Sides articulated a frustration shared by many developers and players. He argues that the term “extraction shooter” is uniquely flawed in the landscape of video game genres. “It’s the only genre where its name is a mechanic,” he explained, pointing out that the act of “extracting” is merely the end goal, not the substance of the gameplay itself.
This, he contends, is the core problem. Genre names like First-Person Shooter (FPS), Role-Playing Game (RPG), or Real-Time Strategy (RTS) effectively describe the primary way a player interacts with the game world. They set a clear expectation. An FPS is about shooting from a specific perspective. An RPG is about embodying a character and progressing through a story.
“Extraction shooter,” however, tells you nothing about the heart-pounding tension, the high-stakes gear risk, the unpredictable encounters with both AI enemies and other human players (PvPvE), or the intricate inventory management that truly defines the experience. It simply describes the final step of a successful run, which is akin to calling a racing game a “finish line crosser.”
Bungie’s Internal Push for a New Genre Identity
Perhaps most revealing were Sides’ comments about his time at Bungie working on *Marathon*. He stated that he and his team actively pushed to coin a different term for the genre, hoping to better define their project and separate it from the pack. This internal effort highlights a significant challenge for developers entering this increasingly crowded space: how to market a game when the accepted terminology feels inadequate.
By trying to “create a different genre name,” the *Marathon* team was attempting to control the narrative and educate players on what makes their vision unique. A new label could have helped frame *Marathon* not as just another entry in an existing category, but as an evolution or a new beginning. While the alternative name they considered was not revealed, the very existence of this debate within a studio of Bungie’s caliber proves that the dissatisfaction with “extraction shooter” runs deep.
What an Extraction Shooter Really Is
To understand the weight of Sides’ critique, it’s essential to look past the name and analyze the core pillars that make these games so compelling. The experience is a complex cocktail of several key elements that the current genre name completely ignores.
- High-Stakes Gameplay: The foundational element is risk. Players typically enter a match with gear they have earned or purchased, and if they are eliminated, they lose that gear permanently. This creates a palpable sense of tension where every decision matters.
- Persistent Loot and Economy: Success is not just about survival, but about what you bring back with you. Finding rare weapons, attachments, and resources to use in future runs or to sell on a player-driven market is the primary motivation. The loop is one of investment, risk, and potential reward.
- Unpredictable PvPvE Encounters: These games are not simple deathmatches. Maps are populated with AI-controlled enemies that pose a constant threat, but the real danger comes from other players who are pursuing the same objectives. You never know if the next firefight will be against a predictable AI or a cunning human opponent, creating a dynamic and emergent style of play.
- The Thrill of the Escape: The "extraction" itself is the dramatic climax of this entire loop. After surviving enemy encounters and securing valuable loot, the final, desperate sprint to an exfiltration point while fending off opportunistic rivals is where the genre’s most memorable moments are born.
It is this entire cycle of preparation, infiltration, conflict, looting, and the desperate escape that defines the genre—a rich and layered experience that the word “extraction” alone fails to capture.
The Future of the Genre’s Identity
While Chris Sides is no longer with Bungie, his comments have amplified a long-simmering discussion. The term “extraction shooter” has, for better or worse, entered the mainstream gaming vocabulary. It’s a convenient shorthand that has been widely adopted. However, as more AAA studios like Bungie pour immense resources into creating their own interpretations, the desire for a more descriptive and evocative name will likely grow.
The name of a genre is more than just a label; it’s a foundational piece of its identity. It shapes player perception, influences marketing, and sets expectations before a single moment of gameplay is even shown. While the community may be stuck with “extraction shooter” for now, the debate Sides has reignited proves that the search for a better, more accurate description is far from over. As the genre continues to evolve, its name may have to evolve with it.