2026 has been an incredibly interesting year for the gaming industry, as if fans of many genres are drowning in games to play, fans of one prominent type of game want more. Action and stealth fans recently got to play the brilliant 007: First Lightand have Marvel's Wolverine waiting just around the corner. Cozy players have had a good time Pokemon Pokopiasinking hours into the delightful game as they create fantastic habitats for their favorite pooches. And horror fans got to experience a sure contender for Game of the Year Resident Evil Requiemwhich 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 lately.
Constant video game shutdowns have been the norm for shooters as of late, but even beyond that, there have been issues. For example, despite Marathons critical acclaim and positive user reviews on Steam, a strange hate campaign has made it difficult for the game to gain traction. When even really good shooters struggle, it's impossible not to see 2026 as a disappointing year for the genre. And while things could certainly improve in the back half of the year, there's a chance the overwhelming sense of disappointment will only get worse.
There will never be another game like Destiny
Saying goodbye to Destiny 2, a unique gaming experience that offered huge 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 it is the confirmation that Destiny 2 the support is coming to an end. Destiny 2s final update, launching on June 9, will act as a final hurray for the beloved shooter/MMO hybrid, allowing fans to enjoy sparrow racing, hunt for some new bounties, and play with brand new exotic catalysts. While Destiny 3 the petition has been signed by hundreds of thousands of players, and many will crash the servers on June 9th to show Sony that a sequel is wanted, it remains to be seen if one will actually happen.
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The idea that a long-running franchise likes Fate may come to a permanent end in 2026 is heartbreaking, but there have also been new ambitious IPs biting the bullet this year. For example, Highguard came and went in just a few months, with its enjoyable mounted combat and fun core gameplay not enough to save it after its odd show closer reveal at The Game Awards 2025. Also, at the beginning of the year, fans had to say goodbye to BioWare's promising but failed Anthem since its servers were shut down. Despite brilliant combat and flight mechanics, the lack of new content and a directionless story meant the game fell flat quickly, and attempts to overhaul it behind the scenes failed.
In addition to the deaths of Anthem and Highguardas well as Destiny 2s sunset, last-gen shooter fans must finally come to terms with the age of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. FPS games have been one of the main supporters of older consoles for years now, but that's coming to an end soon. Not only did it The finals bring back its last generation version, but last generation Call of Duty: Warzone will soon become unplayable on PS4 and Xbox One. New downloads of the game are already impossible, while its final end date is expected some time around November. For the many players who have been relying on this outdated version of the War zonethis news is sure to be devastating, especially when it comes on the back of several shutdowns in 2026.
Will the rest of 2026 offer redemption for shooters, or more of the same?
While it makes sense to take a glass-half-empty approach given how tough 2026 has been for the shooter genre, there are some reasons to be optimistic. To begin with, maybe Marathons excellent night map and off week could give it enough players to thrive long-term, which could eventually lead to Destiny 3s release. In addition, Battlefield 6Post-launch content seems to be going in the right direction, while Black Ops 7s Totenreich Zombies map is phenomenal, inspiring hope that the upcoming maps will be as well. Much will ride on the upcoming Modern Warfare 4as if the reception to MW 2019 was very positive, MW2The response was mixed and MW3 was crushed from a critical point of view. It 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 endured. Fortunately with rumors of a new one Wolfenstein game in progress, and the next BioShock probably still under development, things will – eventually – get better no matter what.
