Is the Popularity of First Person Shooters a Phase?

Currently, First Person Shooters like Call of Duty, Homefront, Battlefield, and Medal of Honour dominate the sales charts and gamer's free time. Many gamers however (myself included) are frustrated with this genre's current trajectory, criticizing its lack of innovation, uninspired settings, and predictable, rushed experiences. There's no doubt FPSs are one of the most (if not the most) popular and profitable genres in all of gaming, but will this trend eventually fizzle and give way to the next best thing? Is the current popularity of First Person Shooters just a phase? I heed warning before venturing further; the answer may be a little discouraging. Allow me to elaborate...

Let's slowly ease into this topic by first analysing the question, "Is the Popularity of FPSs Just a Phase?" It's a very direct question, but many misinterpret it. I fear some interpret it to mean, "Are Modern Warfare FPSs a phase?" This is concerning because the continued success of a genre is very different from the continued success of a type of game within that genre. So, to clear up any confusion, let's answer both these questions.

First, let's examine the success and future of the FPS genre. To be blunt and clear, the First Person Shooter is the most popular genre due to two things: appeal and accessibility. These key characteristics now play bigger roles in games than ever before due to the industry's rapidly expanding audience. This generation has seen an explosion in audience size as a result of lowering the barrier of entry to play video games (think Wii for example). Since gaming has a broader, more mainstream appeal, games now cater to the masses by providing relatable, approachable experiences. FPSs provide those experiences because of their instinctive first person perspective, limited UI intrusion, and deep, fast, entertaining gameplay.
 

The FPS genre however, wasn't always the top of the pack. Indeed, the current gaming landscape compared to ten years ago is almost unrecognizable. What happened to the abundant array of puzzle-plat formers like Banjo-Kazooie and Spyro? Where are the intricate role playing games like Baldur's Gate? The reason, of course, is hardcore gamers aren't a large percentage of the gamer populace anymore. Hardcore gamers are now a minority and adhere to the interests of gaming's larger demographics. As a result, more "hardcore" games like RPGs and RTSs have either declined in popularity or have adapted to fit current audiences, all while genres like FPSs are booming.

I do not think the popularity of FPS will ever die down. In time, the genre will inevitably experience a plateau, but I feel it will continue to be one of the most popular video game genres. The FPS isn't popular solely because of its roster of titles, but rather, the appeal and intuitive nature of the genre itself. It's the characteristics of the genre (not the latest Call of Duty) that attracts varying types of players. The genre's intuitive perspective, scarce UI, combined with deep gameplay, makes the FPS incredibly instinctive for newcomers, but difficult to master for experienced gamers. It's these characteristics, combined with an expansive, diverse, and ever-growing audience, which makes the FPS genre popular today and far into future. However, this doesn't mean FPSs will always be in its current form. I predict huge changes on the horizon for the First Person Shooter to accommodate the massive player-base, but I'll explain in a future article. 

The answer to the second question (is the popularity of modern warfare FPSs a phase?) may or may not have a more fulfilling answer. As described earlier, these types of modern military games are everywhere, each providing eerily similar experiences. This trend has been ongoing for years now and many gamers are wondering if the prevalence of these games will continue. Before shedding light on my prediction, it's important to review two things: have these types of trends occurred in the past, and if so, why have they occurred?

It should be no surprise that yes, these sub-genre trends have occurred in the past and have routinely come and gone. In fact, the FPS experienced a WWII phase near the beginning of the millennium. The Call of Duty, Medal of Honour, and Battlefield franchises all began near the year 2000 and all were set in WWII. This trend continued for several years until around 2007, when Call of Duty Modern Warfare proved fighting in present day was the next big thing. Why do these phases happen though? As with anything in the entertainment industry, trends come and go, and sometimes, come again. The audience's interests at a specific point in time are tied to the state of culture during that period. Culture is always changing and therefore, makes gaming trends volatile and susceptible to change alongside it.

The modern day military craze FPSs currently experience is connected to culture and culture -as previously mentioned- will inevitably change. This phase of bland browns and grays, Deltas and Tangos, UAVs and Nukes is just a passing thing. However, exactly when this phase will fade is another question altogether. 

The prevalence of the FPS genre and modern military sub-genre has different answers regarding long term success. The popularity of the First Person Shooter in today's current industry is tied to its appealing and accessible characteristics. Since the fundamentals of this genre won't drastically change, the FPS will continue to play a big role in video games far into the future. The modern military sub-genre however, will see a different fate. Since culture is tied to the popularity of a sub-genre, cultural changes will affect the popularity of the modern warfare FPS. It's only a matter of time before the current predictability and rampant use of this sub-genre will be replaced with a new one. Cultural trends come and go, but the core characteristics that make a genre successful go unchanged.