- Primary Subject: Marathon
- Key Update: Bungie explains why PvP is essential to extraction shooters
- Status:Confirmed
- Last Verified: April 28, 2026
- Quick Answer: Bungie argues that extraction shooters rely on a balance between PvP and PvE, with real player encounters adding the unpredictability that defines the genre. While PvE-only approaches like ARC Raiders may appeal to broader audiences, they risk losing the tension and identity that comes from competing against other players.
The debate around PvP and PvE in extraction shooters is back in the spotlight. This is largely because Marathon and Arc Raiders take very different approaches to the genre.
Marathon leans heavily into competitive player encounters. Meanwhile, Arc Raiders focuses more on cooperative, PvE-friendly experiences, including large-scale PvE events.
This contrast has created a clear divide in design philosophy and sparked fresh discussion about what truly defines the genre.
What Does Bungie Think Makes Extraction Shooters Work?
Speaking with GamesRadar, Joe Ziegler said that the core appeal of extraction shooters is not just combat, but the constant cycle of decision-making, consequence, and adaptation.
Players feel in control of their choices while also being forced to react to unpredictable situations.
This becomes far more intense when other players are involved as PvE elements alone provide a structured and understandable baseline through consistent rules and AI behavior, but the addition of PvP introduces a layer of chaos driven by human decisions that cannot be easily predicted or mastered.
That is why he describes the space between PvP and PvE as the “sweet spot” that gives the genre its identity. To further explain this idea, Ziegler compares it to The Lord of the Rings.
He suggests that a journey like Frodo Baggins’ would lose much of its tension and meaning if it only involved environmental dangers instead of active enemies working against him.
This draws a direct parallel to how extraction shooters would feel significantly less engaging if they removed the threat of other players entirely.
Real human opponents create unpredictable, high-stakes moments that AI alone cannot replicate.
This reinforces that while PvE-only versions can appeal to a wider audience, they risk feeling more like traditional co-op shooters than true extraction experiences.
The defining feature of the genre lies in that constant uncertainty, where any encounter can shift the outcome of a run.
Bungie’s approach with Marathon is less about choosing between PvP or PvE and more about preserving the balance between both to generate dynamic, player-driven stories that feel different every time.
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