Online shooters are once again on the verge of change. The “battle royale” genre is still at the top, but the feeling that players are starting to look for something new is becoming more noticeable. And increasingly, one term is being used in this context — evacuation shooters.
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Escape Shooters can Change the Market
For almost a decade, battle royale has been setting the tone for the entire industry. PUBG, Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone and Apex Legends have formed a familiar rhythm: fast match, fight to the last, adrenaline until the final round.
But, according to the head of PUBG Studios, Taesok Chan, this cycle will not last forever. Players are gradually starting to reach for a more intense and thoughtful experience — where it’s important not just to survive, but also to get out with the loot.
Evacuation shooters are just about that. Here, every mistake costs more, and every successful “comeback” feels like a small victory.
The success of Arc Raiders was a signal for the industry
The main argument in favor of the new genre was Arc Raiders. And this is not just “another successful game,” but a rare case when a project really took off against the backdrop of a difficult market.
The numbers speak for themselves:
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Over 14 million copies sold
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Almost one million simultaneous players in the first months
Against the background of the closures and failures of other online projects, this looks especially powerful. Arc Raiders has shown that if you get into the mood of the audience, even a new format can become a hit.
Black Budget is a new game from the creators of PUBG
Unsurprisingly, PUBG Studios decided not to stay away. Their new project Black Budget is an attempt to enter the genre of evacuation shooters and, perhaps, gain a foothold in it in the same way as it once did with battle royale.
But the developers are under no illusions. Chan says bluntly: such games are more difficult. It’s not enough to just “make shooting enjoyable” here — you need to think about the economy, the risk, and the motivation of the players to come back again and again.
This, in his opinion, is the main challenge.
Why it has become harder for online shooters to shoot
Today, releasing a successful online shooter is no longer just a matter of budget or brand. The players have become more demanding, and the market has become much tougher.
In recent years, the industry has seen many projects that seemed promising, but quickly disappeared. The reason is almost always the same — the game couldn’t hold the attention.
Chan puts it simply: pleasure should always be at the center. But the problem is that there are a lot of “fun” games now, but there are only a few that really catch on.
Black Budget doesn’t have a release date yet, but the idea itself is already arousing interest. PUBG Studios clearly feels where the market is heading — and doesn’t want to stay away.
If escape shooters continue to gain popularity, a new chapter in the history of online shooters may await us. And, perhaps, very soon the familiar formula of the “royal battle” will give way to something more intense and profound.
