The “extraction shooter” genre is quickly growing in numbers by the day. Once a niche type of game only seen in the likes of Hunt Showdown and, more importantly, Escape from Tarkov, in 2025 alone we are getting a few new titles with their unique spin on it, including Exoborne from developer Sharkmob.
For the uninitiated, Exoborne is a tactical PvPvE extraction shooter set in an open world being torn apart by the forces of nature. As you can expect from an extraction shooter, the goal is to go with your squad to scour a variety of maps full of PvE enemies, and potentially other real players, in order to extract the best loot possible. What makes Exoborne stand out amongst the traditional extraction shooter is the marriage of its PvPvE element with an exosuit mechanic that’s a little reminiscent to Bioware’s Anthem. When combined with a dynamic, destructive weather system, Sharkmob is aiming for a unique experience in every match.
I got to go hands-on with the PC version of Exoborne for a 25-minute session where I experienced the PvPvE element alongside a variety of weather changes. Over a couple of sessions, I was able to complete a mission after battling A.I. enemies while making my way to the extraction zone. The fidelity of the environment and the characters with their accompanying exosuits are of high enough quality, and I could certainly see Exoborne standing out once they get the next round of polish in. I have to preface that this is obviously an earlier build still in development, but the performance was in need of some work, with an erratic frame rate and plenty of screen tearing.
I really enjoyed the varying gameplay styles you can experience with the exosuits. I got to try a flying exosuit that could keep me in the air during engagements along with one all about stealth and invisibility. I found the PvE A.I. fairly intelligent as I went down a couple of times on some intense firefights with me and my co-op partners. With some of the developers at Sharkmob also joining the server, I was also able to battle with other players as I headed to the extraction point. All hell broke loose, with a tornado coming our way while another developer parachuted in shooting from above. As we were both flying and shooting at each other, having heavy gusts lifting us through the skies, it was a good representation of the dynamic engagements that can unfold during a match.
The developer told us if we had shot the propeller tanks that were in the way of the tornado, it could have turned it into a fire tornado for even more chaos as the fire will also spread dynamically. The possibilities for chaos as you’re trying to extract your loot as you’re fighting enemies of all varieties, all while staying alive from natural disasters, clearly showed the game’s true potential and emergent gameplay.
Exoborne is aiming for a 2025 release date. If the developer can launch with a solid final round of polish and a great roadmap, I see Exoborne as a solid contender in the growing extraction shooter market. Who wouldn’t want to survive fighting against other enemies in the midst of a natural disaster?
