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Here's Your Roadmap To 2016's Biggest Shooters
This feature was originally published May 4, 2016.
May is going to be a busy month for shooter fans, thanks to a packed release schedule of big-name titles. Join us as we break down what players can expect from this month and beyond.
Shooter fans might want to stock up on the deluge of titles coming out this month, as the options will run a bit dry in the summer months. Your wallet may appreciate the reprieve, however, as the fall and holiday seasons promise new releases and expansions from the biggest FPS franchises. Here's a look at this year's most promising shooters.
Battleborn
Platform:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release: May 3
This week's big retail release comes courtesy of Gearbox,
and features the trademark humor and larger-than-life personalities that Borderlands
is known for. Battleborn trades Borderlands' massive open-world and procedurally
generated arsenal for MMO raid-style story missions on distinct levels, and a
whopping 25 playable heroes, each sporting their own unique weapons and
abilities.
Why You Should Care: Battleborn
shakes up the competitive multiplayer formula with some MOBA-inspired features
such as a rapid leveling system and A.I.-controlled minion droids, and the huge
roster of characters ensures everyone can find a hero (or two or three) that
fit their play-style.
Superhot
Platform: Xbox
One
Release Date: May
3
Xbox One owners can now find out what made Superhot such a
hit with PC gamers. This stylish indie game turns the action-packed FPS into a
methodical strategy game by linking the speed of gameplay to the player's
movement. Sidestepping bullets and shattering enemies into crystalline shards will
make you feel like the hero of your own gun-fu action movie, even if the later
levels get
a little frustrating.
Why You Should Care: If
you're suffering from shooter fatigue, Superhot's unique take on the FPS might
be just what the doctor ordered.
Overwatch
Platform: PlayStation
4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: May
3 (early access beta), May 4 (open beta), May 24 (full game)
Overwatch's official launch is still a few weeks away, but
fans can get an early – and free – look at the game during this week's open
beta. All of the 6v6 team-based shooter's features will be available to check
out (aside from monthly
seasons), including the 21 unique playable characters, four game modes,
unlockable loot, and weekly brawl events.
Why You Should Care: Blizzard
is a master at breaking down what makes a genre fun and compelling, and then building
it up with nearly infinite replayability. Blizzard has already stated that all
of Overwatch's DLC will be free, so if you're looking for a new competitive
shooter, now's the time to check it out.
Rainbow Six Siege:
Operation Dust Line DLC
Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: May
9
Rainbow Six Siege was roundly
criticized for its lack of content and technical shortcomings at launch,
but a solid gameplay foundation was already firmly in place. The five-on-five
matches require careful team planning and communication to survive –
steamrolling an unprepared squad with a coordinated ambush is supremely rewarding.
Operation Dust Line adds two more unique operatives to the character roster,
along with additional content – if the last DLC drop is any indication, the
community could be getting another free map as well.
Why You Should Care: Ubisoft's
slow trickle of post-release DLC may not be enough to entice new players to
check out Siege, but it's still the most tactical team-based shooter on the
market right now.
Doom
Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: May
13
Few games have the legacy of id Software's genre-defining FPS
series, and the latest entry seeks to reintroduce players to the fast-paced,
run-and-gun action that old-school shooters were known for. Doom's SnapMap
feature has also made waves by promising to give players the ability to
easily make and share custom levels.
Why You Should Care: So
far what we've played of Doom
has been gorgeous, gory, and highly entertaining. If you're tired of taking
potshots at enemies from behind cover, Doom shouldn't disappoint.
Homefront: The
Revolution
Platforms: PlayStation
4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: May
17
The first Homefront was far
from perfect, but Dambuster Studios is hoping that the switch to an open-world
format is enough to enlist more would-be guerrillas to its cause. Your
hit-and-run tactics are augmented by the ability to customize your weapons on
the fly and craft deadly munitions, like an explosives-toting RC car. A
separate four-player co-op mode is also available, if being a lone wolf isn't
your style.
Why You Should Care: The
first Homefront failed to compete with Call of Duty and Battlefield, but that
failure has seemingly allowed Homefront to strike out and find its own
identity. The open-world format should give players more agency in picking and
confronting targets than the standard campaigns of other military shooters.
Coming Up Next: What summer holds for shooter fans...
Umbrella Corps
Platforms:
PlayStation 4, PC
Release Date: June
21
Capcom's beloved horror series is taking a detour into the
multiplayer shooter space this summer with Umbrella Corps. Resident Evil's
undead brain-munchers provide a fresh wrinkle to the three-versus-three team
matches, as they'll dine on friends and foes alike if you attack them or
disable another player's "zombie jammer."
Why You Should Care: Umbrella
Corps definitely isn't what Resident Evil fans were expecting, but the G.I.
editors who have played it so far have had a surprisingly good time with it.
Given the dearth of new games this summer, the $30 budget title might be worth
a look for zombie fans.
The Division: Underground
Expansion
Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: June
(Xbox One), July (PlayStation 4, PC)
Ubisoft Massive's online shooter was off
to a good start earlier this year, thanks to its engaging story missions, support
for diverse
character builds, and endless loot. April's
Incursion update tried to address the lack of end-game content, but
hopefully the upcoming Underground DLC will be more substantial. Ubisoft hasn't
outlined what the DLC entails beyond delving into New York's expansive subway system.
Two more DLC expansions are planned for this summer and winter as well.
Why You Should Care: The
Division provides solid co-op fun for you and three friends. Our biggest
complaint was that we ran out of things to do in the world, which the DLC might
just remedy.
Gears Of War 4
Platform: Xbox
One
Release Date: October
11
Despite being developed for a new console by a new studio and
featuring a new cast of characters, Gears of War 4 looks like it
contains everything that fans love about the series: gory action, grotesque
enemies, and enough explosions to level a small city.
Why You Should Care: Microsoft
knows what kind of expectations fans have for Gears of War, and isn't going to
let its second biggest series go to waste. In addition to offering up plenty of
popcorn movie action, we expect Gears of War 4 will be a technical powerhouse
that show's off just what the Xbox One is capable of.
Battlefield 1
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: October 21
DICE has finally revealed its plans for the newest Battlefield, and as the rumors suggested, the developer is eschewing modern combat for a trip back to World War I. The short reveal trailer features stunning visuals (and was labeled as "game engine footage"), and was followed up by a lengthy discussion in which DICE confirmed 64-player battles, land, air, and sea battles, and destructible environments. New additions such as horses, trench maces, and mustard gas will shake up the gameplay a bit, but all in all it looks like a return to form for DICE's beloved series.
Why You Should Care: If you're tired of modern/futuristic military shooters, Battlefield 1's WWI setting should ironically be a breath of fresh air.
Destiny Fall Update
Platform: PlayStation
4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Release Date: Fall
In a
recent post, Bungie's David Dague slipped in a small mention of what's next
for Destiny: "The next point on the horizon is an update we're cooking up for
the Fall. I've seen it. I'm excited about it. I will say no more...For now."
While that's not a lot to go on, Destiny's April Update proved
more substantial than its lackluster holiday events, giving fans hope for
the future. At the very least, we're expecting to see some new weapons, armor,
and activities, which is good enough for us.
Why You Should Care: Destiny
had its fair share of haters after launch, but you can't accuse Bungie of not
supporting the highly ambitious project. The developer has constantly been
coming up with new ways to improve and expand the game, and we don't expect
them to stop anytime soon.
Call of Duty:
Infinite Warfare
Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: November
4
Call of Duty jumped the shark years ago – in the best way
possible. Eschewing the serious tone of most military shooters has allowed the
series to amp up the set-piece moments way past 11, and Infinite Warfare looks
no different. Taking the fight to space will allow firefights to play out on
multiple planes (gravity is so passé), and managing your ship sounds like it
has some Mass
Effect-inspired elements. Fans will also be getting a new installment of
the ever-popular Zombies
mode, plus a current-gen remake of Call of Duty 4 if you buy the Legacy
Edition.
Why You Should Care: It's
Call of Duty – you either love it or you hate it, and based on sales, most
players still love it.
Coming Up Next: The currently undated – but still promising – shooters of 2016...
Shadow Warrior 2
Platforms: PlayStation
4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: TBA
2016
The reviews of 2013's Shadow Warrior reboot were decidedly
mixed, but that isn't stopping developer Flying Wild Hog from going all out for
the sequel. Shadow Warrior 2 will feature four-player co-op, over 70 weapons,
and procedurally generated levels. It might not win any awards for its story or
character design, but the nonstop
enemy dismembering could still end up being a lot of fun.
Why You Should Care: Sometimes
you want a deep, meaningful adventure, and sometimes you just want to blow crap
up. Shadow Warrior 2 delivers one of those experiences.
Sniper Elite 4
Platform: PlayStation
4, Xbox One, PC
Release Date: TBA
2016
You may know Sniper Elite as "that series that lets you shoot
Hitler in his one good testicle." If so, we don't blame you – the gory
X-ray kill cam is definitely the series' standout feature. However, Rebellion Developments
has put a lot of work into creating a realistic sniping simulation, and the
latest, Italy-bound
adventure will surely raise the bar yet again.
Why You Should Care: Did
you miss the part about shooting Hitler's testicle?
Rising Storm 2:
Vietnam
Platform: PC
Release Date: TBA
2016
The creators behind the ultra-realistic Red Orchestra are
heading to a (slightly) more modern battlefield in Rising Storm 2: Vietnam. The
game will feature 64-player matches in wide-open levels, as well as smaller
maps designed for 16-player squad-based matches. The developer is also adding
an updated recoil system to complement other realism-based features such as
bullet drop, and is improving its squad and communication systems.
Why You Should Care: Part
of Rising Storm 2's appeal is what it lacks: The developer boasts that the game
has no class ranks, weapon upgrades, or unlocks – instead, the game comes down
to your own personal skill. If that's what you're looking for, Rising Storm 2
shouldn't disappoint.
Squad
Platform: PC
Release Date: Early
access available now, full release TBA
Speaking of realism, Offworld Industries is designing its team-based
military shooter to be as true to real-life modern combat as possible. Squad
has been dubbed the spiritual sequel to the still-popular Project Reality mod
for Battlefield 2, and while many features have yet to be implemented, the current
early access version has been widely praised on Steam. Massive environments, 100-player
battles, and a wide assortment of vehicles are all planned for the final game.
Why You Should Care: Project
Reality has a long and venerable history in the PC shooter space, and by all
accounts Squad is living up to its legacy. If you're looking for more strategy
and camaraderie than more fast-paced shooters offer, keep Squad on your radar.
Lawbreakers
Platform: PC
Release Date: Summer
2016
Cliff Bleszinski's new competitive FPS was originally
announced as a free-to-play, but has since adopted a traditional pricing
structure. The frenetic shooter allows players to manipulate gravity as they shoot,
shock, and blow up their competition.
Why You Should Care: Out
of all the competitive shooters on this list, Lawbreakers looks to be the most
frantic (and profane). If you're looking for nonstop action, the
alpha test should be available this summer.
Which shooter are you most looking forward to? Share your favorite in the comments below!