New Blood Co-Founder Criticizes Extraction Shooter Trend, Blames Escape from Tarkov

Nearly a decade after its debut, Escape from Tarkov remains a dominant force in the extraction shooter genre—so much so that it’s being blamed for shaping the industry in ways not everyone appreciates. Dave Oshry, co-founder of New Blood Interactive, a studio and publisher known for its retro-inspired games like DUSK, Amid Evil, and Ultrakill, recently voiced his frustration over the genre’s growing influence, saying that Tarkov has done “irreparable” damage to game development.

Oshry shared his thoughts on the Quad Damage Podcast while reacting to The Duskbloods, an upcoming title from FromSoftware. Initially, Oshry said he mistook the game for a potential Bloodborne 2, but was disappointed to learn it’s a multiplayer title with extraction elements.

“Tarkov has done irreparable fing damage to the games industry. Everything needs to be a fing—what are they called—extraction shooter,” Oshry said bluntly. “I just like regular-ass games, but I’m old, I get it. I’m not the target audience for these games anymore.”

While The Duskbloods isn't a traditional extraction shooter, it reportedly mixes extraction-style objectives with battle royale mechanics. The game is slated for a 2026 release as a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive.

Despite industry concerns, The Duskbloods director Hidetaka Miyazaki offered reassurance to players during a recent Nintendo Creator’s Voice interview. “I personally am not much of a PvP person, and I wanted to make something that's satisfying even for players like me,” he said. “While the goal of a match is to obtain First Blood, there are personal objectives that provide separate rewards to the player as well, so I hope these add to the fun of each engagement.”

The rise of extraction shooters isn't confined to just one studio. Lately, several major developers have entered the space:

• Gray Zone Warfare (2024) – A tactical, open-world FPS featuring realistic combat and deep extraction mechanics.

• Delta Force (2024) – A free-to-play tactical shooter reviving the classic franchise, now incorporating a popular extraction mode.

• VOIN (2024) – A dark fantasy first-person extraction shooter that blends hack-and-slash combat with high-stakes looting.

• Witchfire (Early Access 2023, ongoing updates) – A dark fantasy extraction shooter with RPG elements, offering methodical gunplay and risk-reward gameplay.

• Marathon (Upcoming) – Bungie’s ambitious return to the Marathon universe, designed as the most accessible extraction shooter to date.

• Arc Raiders (Upcoming) – A third-person PvPvE extraction shooter from Nexon’s Embark Studios, set in a stylized post-apocalyptic world and scheduled for release later this year.

Though extraction shooters continue to attract large audiences, industry veterans like Oshry are raising questions about their long-term impact on creativity and diversity in game development. Whether this genre becomes the next lasting pillar of multiplayer gaming—or fades like previous trends—remains to be seen.