30 Years After DOOM - What's Next for FPS? (ft. John Romero)
a16zKey Moments
FPS games evolved from Quake/Doom to diverse genres; future lies in innovation, not just shooting.
Key Insights
The FPS genre has diversified significantly since the 1990s, encompassing numerous subgenres beyond traditional shooters.
Modern game design is less about rigid genre classifications and more about understanding player motivations and core mechanics.
Technological advancements have consistently driven the evolution of FPS games, from early 3D rendering to current possibilities.
The resurgence of '90s aesthetics and design principles in indie games highlights the enduring appeal of classic FPS titles.
The economic realities of game development, particularly the success of live service and multiplayer games, have heavily influenced design choices.
The future of FPS games is likely to be driven by innovation, surprising subgenres, and a continued blurring of genre lines.
THE NINETIES FPS RENAISSANCE AND ITS ENDURING APPEAL
The 1990s marked a transformative era for the first-person shooter (FPS) genre, driven by rapid technological advancements. Games like Doom and Quake pushed the boundaries of graphics and 3D rendering, establishing foundational design principles. This period saw the emergence of key design elements such as spatial design, loop mechanics, and set pieces. The rapid pace of innovation meant entire genres could evolve within years, a stark contrast to today's development cycles. Experts like John Romero highlight the era's unique creative environment, where developers directly solved technical challenges.
TECHNOLOGICAL LEAP FORWARD AND GENRE DIVERSIFICATION
Following the initial breakthroughs of the '90s, the 2000s witnessed an explosion in FPS diversity. The introduction of GPUs allowed for more realistic worlds, and market expectations grew as players became more familiar with the genre. This led to the expansion into large sandbox environments (Far Cry), deep role-playing mechanics (S.T.A.L.K.E.R.), and benchmark-setting narrative experiences (Half-Life 2). Even non-shooting mechanics like puzzles (Portal) and RPG elements (Elder Scrolls) found a strong footing within the first-person perspective, blurring genre lines.
THE BLURRING LINES: IS "FPS" STILL A DEFINABLE GENRE?
In the contemporary gaming landscape, the strict definition of the FPS genre is becoming increasingly redundant. Experts suggest that players are often motivated by core mechanics, pace, competitive potential, or aesthetic rather than a specific 'shooter' label. Games like Valorant and League of Legends, while mechanically different, appeal to similar competitive player motivations. This shift indicates that the 'why' behind playing a game is more important than its technical classification, leading to a broader consideration of player engagement beyond traditional genre boundaries.
THE ASCENDANCY OF ECONOMICS: LIVE SERVICES AND MULTIPLAYER DOMINANCE
The economic landscape of the 2010s heavily influenced the direction of FPS development, favoring online multiplayer and live service models. Games designed for long-term engagement with seasonal content became prevalent, driven by market conditions rather than purely technological or design innovation. While this model proved lucrative, it also led to player cynicism and a perceived decline in the focus on single-player experiences. The success of games like Apex Legends over potential single-player sequels exemplifies this market preference.
THE INDIE SCENE AS ENGINE FOR INNOVATION AND NOSTALGIA
Independent developers are currently at the forefront of exploring new FPS concepts and reviving classic aesthetics. Games that capture the '90s look and feel, or blend diverse mechanics, are often led by indie studios. These developers leverage modern technology to recreate beloved retro experiences and experiment with genre fusions, drawing from their own experiences with classic titles. This not only satisfies a nostalgic desire but also pushes the boundaries by reinterpreting foundational design principles for a new audience.
WHAT LIES AHEAD: DISRUPTION AND UNEXPECTED EVOLUTION
The future of FPS games, if the genre as a distinct category even persists, is expected to be one of continued disruption and the creation of entirely new subgenres. Publishers may renew interest in single-player experiences if titles like STALKER 2 or Clockwork Revolution achieve significant success. However, the online space remains dynamic, with potential plateaus in current live service models. The most exciting developments are likely to emerge from the indie scene, where experimentation and the fusion of diverse mechanics will lead to unpredictable and innovative game design that redefines player expectations.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Software & Apps
●Companies
●Books
●Concepts
●People Referenced
Common Questions
Doom's 30th anniversary serves as a marker to analyze the evolution of the FPS genre over the past three decades, looking at its past, present, and future trajectories.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
A 3D space combat shooter that featured six degrees of freedom, a notable game from the '90s.
A first-person shooter notable for its realistic gore and dismemberment system.
An open-world first-person RPG that expanded the fantasy genre with complex systems and deep lore, released in 2002.
A installment in the Gears of War series, developed by People Can Fly and Epic Games, which Steven Lim worked on.
A long-running tactical first-person shooter series, mentioned in the context of player overlap with MOBAs.
The latest iteration of the tactical shooter series, noted for not significantly impacting the market despite its popularity.
A memoir by John Romero, recommended as a detailed account of the technology and design origins of the FPS genre during the '90s.
A pioneering stealth-focused first-person game renowned for its immersive atmosphere and emergent gameplay.
A revolutionary 3D platformer that redefined control and camera systems, influencing many genres, including FPS.
A first-person shooter known for its groundbreaking environmental destruction mechanics.
A game development studio responsible for critically acclaimed immersive Sims like Dishonored and Prey.
A game mode where players fight to be the last one standing in an ever-shrinking map, which became a massively popular trend after PUBG.
A hypothetical sequel to the Titanfall series, mentioned as a game that the market might prefer over Apex Legends, but its release is uncertain.
A hardcore multiplayer first-person shooter with survival and RPG elements, which Steven Lim plays.
A co-op heist shooter that reportedly struggled significantly upon release.
A free-to-play competitive shooter from the creators of classic Battlefield games, described as a breath of fresh air.
A stealth-horror FPS developed by New Blood Interactive, noted for its '90s aesthetic and blend of genres.
A fantasy-themed first-person shooter that used the Doom engine, known for its non-linear level design.
A series of open-world first-person shooters known for large sandbox maps and emergent gameplay.
A first-person shooter developed by Insomniac Games, which Steven Lim contributed to.
A first-person shooter developed by New Blood Interactive that captures a distinctive '90s feel, mentioned as an example of the genre's resurgence.
A Star Wars first-person shooter that expanded the lore and gameplay possibilities of the genre.
A critically acclaimed reboot of the Doom franchise that successfully blended classic fast-paced gameplay with modern design elements.
A massively popular open-world first-person RPG that continued the series' success with a vast world and engaging quests.
A revolutionary first-person shooter that redefined the modern military shooter with its cinematic campaign and deep online progression system.
A team-based hero shooter that transitioned to a free-to-play model, representing a move towards live service games.
A highly anticipated AAA single-player FPS game, positioned as a potential indicator for the future of narrative-driven FPS titles.
An indie first-person shooter characterized by its unique visual style and gameplay, mentioned as an example of diverse upcoming indie experiences.
An open-world shooter that the speaker enjoyed, highlighting the appeal of open-world games.
A seminal first-person shooter that turned 25, highlighting the rapid evolution of the genre over decades.
Founder of New Blood Interactive, known for retro-style FPS games like Dusk and Ultrakill, providing insights on the '90s aesthetic comeback and indie game development.
An early first-person shooter that laid groundwork for the genre, from which Doom evolved.
A highly influential first-person shooter released on the Nintendo 64, popularizing the genre on consoles.
A battle royale game that emerged from the mod scene and popularized the genre, influencing many subsequent titles.
An open-world tactical shooter that the speaker enjoyed and played extensively.
A survival horror immersive Sim with first-person shooter elements, lauded for its narrative and complex gameplay.
A series of survival horror first-person shooters known for their large, atmospheric open worlds and deep role-playing mechanics.
A stylish and humorous first-person shooter known for its unique spy-thriller theme and gameplay variety.
An ambitious, unreleased MMO project by Blizzard Entertainment that eventually evolved into Overwatch.
A first-person shooter franchise known for large-scale battles and vehicular combat, mentioned as a competitor to Call of Duty.
Refers to Escape from Tarkov, a hardcore survival shooter, noted for its technical and open-world experience.
A single-player RPG expected to appeal to fans of the genre, mentioned alongside S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 as potentially revitalizing interest in narrative-driven games.
A veteran designer and co-creator of Valorant, who contributed expertise on the evolution and future of FPS games, emphasizing audience motivation over genre.
The 'Godfather of the FPS' and co-founder of id Software, renowned for his work on Doom and Quake. He shared perspectives on '90s game development and design principles.
A game development studio founded by Dave Oshry, responsible for games like Dusk, Ultrakill, and Gloomwood, focusing on revitalizing '90s-style FPS aesthetics.
A high-speed, retro-inspired first-person shooter developed by Arsi 'Key' Virtanen. It's cited as an example of indie games capturing the essence of '90s shooters with modern technology.
A pioneering video game developer co-founded by John Romero, responsible for influential FPS titles like Doom and Quake.
A game engine used in '90s shooters like Duke Nukem 3D, known for supporting sprite-based graphics.
A landmark '90s first-person shooter known for its interactivity and build engine technology.
A controversial and gory first-person shooter developed by Monolith Productions, utilizing the Build engine.
A controversial first-person shooter offering a high degree of player freedom and dark humor.
A third-person shooter that popularized the cover-based shooting mechanic and became a flagship title for the Xbox 360.
A first-person shooter based on the RoboCop franchise, cited as an example of the diverse directions FPS games can take.
A landmark first-person shooter known for its advanced graphics and engine technology, setting new standards for visual fidelity.
A puzzle-platform game that eschewed shooting mechanics, focusing on spatial reasoning and creative problem-solving.
A game development studio known for creating deep single-player and multiplayer experiences, notably shifting focus to live service games with Destiny.
A live-service online shooter whose audience may be losing interest in the model as it approaches its conclusion.
An upcoming indie first-person shooter mentioned as an example of diverse upcoming indie experiences.
A flagship first-person shooter franchise for Xbox, mentioned as a genre that indie developers are likely to emulate in the future.
A visual style characterized by low-polygon models, shimmering textures, and jerky animations, currently experiencing a resurgence in indie horror and shooter games.
A highly regarded first-person shooter known for its fluid movement, innovative pilot-mech combat, and strong single-player campaign.
An influential immersive Sim that blended FPS, RPG, and survival horror elements, known for its deep narrative and atmospheric world-building.
A first-person shooter known for its over-the-top action, over-the-top violence, and emphasis on creative kills.
A popular free-to-play battle royale hero shooter, often chosen by the market over single-player focused games.
An indie online shooter that emulates classic Battlefield games, achieving significant success and positive player reception on Steam.
More from a16z Deep Dives
View all 38 summaries
72 minAI Copilots Are a Dead End. Here's What Actually Works | Kavak CEO
63 minTemporal CEO on AI Agents & The Future of Software | Deep Dives with a16z
47 minBraintrust CEO on Where Engineering Actually Matters in AI
20 minHow Palantir Scaled: Why the Best Software Is Built Backwards
Found this useful? Build your knowledge library
Get AI-powered summaries of any YouTube video, podcast, or article in seconds. Save them to your personal pods and access them anytime.
Try Summify free