Top 7 First-Person Shooters on the Horizon

In the world of first-person shooters, there are many options but just a few titles that reign supreme. Games like Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, and Apex Legends have consistently topped the charts, making it hard to believe that any new contenders could topple them. However -- that might all change with these highly-anticipated upcoming FPS titles. Here is my list of most-anticipated first-person shooters releasing soon. 

THE FINALS

Image: Embark Studios

THE FINALS is a competitive 3v3v3 first-person-shooter set in a dystopian future where squads of teams are set against each other to win a sadistic virtual game show. Developed by Embark Studios, a new studio made up of former members of EA Dice, the PvP FPS focuses on high-velocity skirmishes, completely destructible environments, and smooth, fluid movement. 

While still in closed beta, THE FINALS aims to redefine shooter games. Fully destructible environments will change the way people play the FPS, as floors, ceilings, and walls can come crashing down at any moment. The exact release date is still to be determined, but the developers want to launch the game sometime in 2023.  

I got a chance to play the closed beta, and it's already a super-polished game with several game modes, loadouts, and cosmetics. And because the game is PvP-focused, there is a chance of a thriving esports community spawning from it. 

Trepang2

Image: Trepang Studios

Trepang2 is an upcoming indie first-person-shooter published by Team17 and currently has a demo available on Steam. A single-player title, the game incorporates a fairly old concept, bullet time. It presents it in a new and exciting way. 

In the game, you assume the role of a super-soldier that can slow down time. Players can dodge bullets, slide kick enemies yards away, and line up their shots with the bullet time mechanic. Visceral, violent, and bloody, Trepang2 is not for the faint of the heart. Still, it will satisfy those that appreciate over-the-top gore in their games. The game has a scheduled release date of June 21, 2023. 

XDefiant

Image: Ubisoft

XDefiant is an upcoming first-person shooter under development by Ubisoft that has many in the FPS community talking. Another title that recently had a closed beta and will be having another one soon, the game has often been compared to Call of Duty.

While some of the aesthetics are similar to the third-person shooter Rogue Squadron, the game stands on its own as a solid team-based PvP FPS. There are several factions with different abilities and several game modes, including a King of the Hill/Zone Control mode and arena-style deathmatch maps. Factions from the game are taken from other Ubisoft titles, like Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon. 

I also got the privilege of participating in the last closed beta for the game. While it doesn't truly do anything "new," it does polish what other games in the genre have tried to do. The movement and shooting mechanics feel top-notch. 

S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chornobyl

Image: GSC Game World

Another single-player FPS, S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chornobyl, is a highly-anticipated title from a small development company out of Ukraine called GSC Game World. A sequel to the highly-acclaimed 2007 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, the title is a survival horror FPS that takes players on a journey through an eradicated open world. 

Players will have over 30 weapons in their arsenal with a suite of attachments and must overcome fearsome mutants that stalk the area. While the game has seen numerous delays, the developers aim for a December 2023 release date. 

Payday 3

Image: Starbreeze Studios

Those looking for a more cooperative PvE FPS experience should look no further than the upcoming sequel to arguably the most popular heist shooter ever made. Payday 3 is the next game in the popular Payday franchise and is set to release on September 21, 2023. In the game, players don masks and steal, rob, and break safes while taking out waves of police. 

Your team of thieves can approach missions in various ways, like taking a stealth route or going completely wreckless and guns blazing. Since the other games have been undeniably fun, there are high hopes for this game created by Starbreeze Studios. 

RoboCop: Rogue City

Image: Teyon

IGN recently did a hands-on preview of RoboCop: Rogue City, and while games based on movie IPs are usually underwhelming, the developers, Teyon, are taking a thoughtful approach to the single-player FPS title. 

The game's developers are going to great lengths to ensure players feel like Robocop. You will lumber around like a giant tank, use your targeting system, and take on familiar enemies, like ED-209.

RoboCop: Rogue City is based on the iconic RoboCop film released in 1987 and follows our favorite mechanized police officer through a dystopian Detroit. Players will play as the titular character in the game, interrogate suspects, take out criminals, and clean up the city. 

Counter-Strike 2

Image: Valve

Arguably the most iconic first-person-shooter ever made, Counter-Strike launched as a mod for Half-Life in 1999 before getting a proper release in 2000. Counter-Strike 2 is the highly-anticipated follow-up to the game and recently entered its limited test phase. Set to launch summer of 2023, the game will eventually be featured as a free upgrade to those that own Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. 

A limited number of players have already gained access to the test phase, but anticipation for the full release is slowly building within the community. Counter-Strike is still the most-played game on Steam and remains the #1 top seller in the store. With responsive, upgraded smokes, updated graphics and audio, and enhanced tick rate, the game is suiting up to potentially become the most popular FPS game of all time. 

Those were my top picks for the most highly-anticipated upcoming FPS video games. If I missed any of your favorites, let me know in the comments below.