Former Bungie director spent their time on Marathon "dying to create a new genre name" because an extraction shooter is "the only genre where its name is a mechanic"

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Bungie Vet Criticizes “Extraction Shooter” Genre Label

Chris Sides, former director of product management for Bungie's Marathon, recently voiced his frustration with the increasingly popular term “extraction shooter”, calling it “so bad” and revealing that he had been “dying to create a new genre name” while working at the company.

Speaking on the Shooter Monthly Podcast (via The Game Post), Sides argued that the term is the only genre name based on a single game mechanic. Specifically, he refers to the extraction mechanic, in which players must leave the arena after completing objectives.

"Is Helldivers 2 an extraction shooter because you extract?" Sides asked. "Well, no. It's not like [Escape from] Tarkov at all, so the terminology of the genre is already terrible."

While some may note that almost all genre names are tied to core mechanics—players drive in driving games, fight in fighting games, and jump in platformers—Sides’ point is about how limiting or misleading the label can be. Extraction shooter groups together games that otherwise have little in common, ignoring differences in tone, pacing, and player experience.

This problem is not unique. Gamers have long debated the value of genre labels, especially derivative ones such as roguelikes, metroidvanias, or soulslikes. Even with these well-recognized references, disputes arise—like whether Hollow Knight: Silksong should be classified as a metroidvania or soulslike.

The issue intensifies when genre names focus on a single feature, rather than the overall design. For instance, Grand Theft Auto and Pokémon Legends: Z-A are both open-world games, but they appeal to entirely different audiences. Similarly, developers often invent convoluted descriptors: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is marketed as a J’RPG, while Skull and Bones uses the label naval online action RPG.

Ultimately, Sides suggests, the problem of genre labeling is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon.

References

  1. Sides, Chris. Shooter Monthly Podcast, 2025 — Comments on extraction shooter terminology.

  2. The Game Post. Coverage of Chris Sides interview, 2025.

  3. Discussion on genre naming conventions in video games, PC Gamer, 2025.

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