2026 has been an incredibly interesting year for the gaming industry, as though fans of many genres are drowning in games to play, fans of one prominent type of game are left wanting more. Action and stealth fans recently got to play the brilliant 007: First Light, and have Marvel’s Wolverine waiting just around the corner. Cozy gamers have been having a great time with Pokemon Pokopia, sinking hours into the delightful game as they create stunning habitats for their favorite pocket monsters. And horror fans got to experience surefire Game of the Year contender Resident Evil Requiem, which arguably balances horror and action better than any other entry in the series. But for shooter fans, it feels like disappointment is lurking around every corner as of late.
Constant video game shutdowns have been the norm for shooter enjoyers as of late, but even beyond that, there have been issues. For instance, despite Marathon’s critical acclaim and positive user reviews on Steam, a strange hate campaign has made it difficult for the game to gain traction. When even genuinely good shooters are struggling, it’s impossible not to view 2026 as a disappointing year for the genre. And though things could certainly improve in the back half of the year, there’s a chance that the overwhelming feeling of disappointment only becomes worse.
There Will Never Be Another Game Like Destiny
Saying farewell to Destiny 2, a one-of-a-kind gaming experience that offered tremendous highs and significant lows.
2026’s Biggest Shooter Disappointments (So Far)
Perhaps the most devastating announcement of all is one of the most recent, and that’s the confirmation that Destiny 2 support is coming to an end. Destiny 2’s final update, which launches on June 9, will serve as a last hoorah for the beloved shooter/MMO hybrid, allowing fans to enjoy sparrow racing, hunt for some new rewards, and play around with entirely fresh exotic catalysts. While the Destiny 3 petition has been signed by hundreds of thousands of players, and many will be crashing the servers on June 9 to show Sony that a sequel is wanted, it remains to be seen if one will actually happen.
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.
The idea that a long-running franchise like Destiny could be coming to a permanent end in 2026 is heartbreaking, but there have also been aspiring new IPs that bit the bullet this year. For instance, Highguard came and went in just a few months, with its enjoyable mounted combat and fun core gameplay not being enough to save it following its odd show closer reveal at The Game Awards 2025. Additionally, at the start of the year, fans had to say goodbye to BioWare’s promising but unsuccessful Anthem since its servers were shutdown. Despite having brilliant combat and flying mechanics, a lack of new content and a directionless story meant the game fell off fast, with attempts to overhaul it behind the scenes failing.
In addition to the deaths of Anthem and Highguard, as well as Destiny 2’s sunsetting, last-gen shooter fans are finally needing to come to terms with the age of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. FPS games have been one of the key supporters of older consoles for years now, but that’s coming to an end soon. Not only did The Finals retire its last-gen version, but last-gen Call of Duty: Warzone will soon become unplayable on PS4 and Xbox One. New downloads of the game are already impossible, while its final cutoff date is expected for some time around November. For the many players who have been relying on this outdated version of Warzone, this news is surely going to be devastating, especially when it comes on the back of multiple shutdowns in 2026.
Will The Rest of 2026 Offer Redemption for Shooters, or More of the Same?
While taking a glass half empty approach makes sense given just how rough 2026 has been for the shooter genre, there are a few reasons to be optimistic. For starters, perhaps Marathon’s excellent night map and free week could bring it enough players to thrive long-term, which could eventually lead to Destiny 3’s release. Additionally, Battlefield 6’s post-launch content seems to be moving in the right direction, while Black Ops 7’s Totenreich Zombies map is phenomenal, inspiring hope that the next few maps will be as well. A lot will be riding on the upcoming Modern Warfare 4, as though the reception to MW 2019 was hugely positive, MW2’s response was mixed and MW3 was bashed from a critical standpoint. The rebooted MW universe has been all over the place, so fans can only hope that Task Force 141’s next outing is inspired enough to make up for the very rocky 2026 shooter lovers have had to endure. Fortunately, with rumors of a new Wolfenstein game in the works, and the next BioShock supposedly still in development, things will — eventually — get better no matter what.