The first-person shooter genre is still one of the most popular in all of gaming. But while the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One is dominated by sci-fi/fantasy shooters, World War II games used to reign supreme. However, WWII FPS games starting fading away during the previous console generation. Now, gamers rarely see the WWII FPS titles, with games like Overwatch and Destiny overshadowing the once popular genre. It appears that the era of WWII FPS games is finally coming to an end.
The WWII FPS genre has been around for quite some time. Games like Wolfenstein 3D helped push the genre into the mainstream during the early 1990s. By the fifth console generation, titles like Medal of Honor were growing in popularity on home consoles with realistic depictions of WWII. Medal of Honor's success paved the way for similar games on PC and home consoles. By the sixth console generation, WWII FPS games were everywhere.
Although WWII FPSs found tremendous success during the early to mid-2000s, the genre started fading during the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 era. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 became a sensational hit and pushed the FPS genre into modern times. Fans started drifting away from WWII games and yearning for a more modern experience.
At the same time, WWII FPS games were starting to feel dull, with many games received average or mediocre reviews. The genre became extremely oversaturated with games that felt generic, causing many gamers to lose interest. Few of these games added new experiences or content to the genre. The dip and quality and oversaturation were the first few nails in the coffin for the WWII FPS genre.
With the success of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, WWII FPS games were all but completely obsolete. Medal of Honor had become a shell of its former self, with later titles failing to capture an audience. More and more developers shifted towards making modern and futuristic FPSs, trying to capitalize on Modern Warfare 2's success. By the time the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One released, WWII FPS games were nearly extinct.
A glimmer of hope appeared for the once triumphant genre with 2017's Call of Duty: WWII. The franchises return to the WWII era excited long-time fans, as this would be the first time Call of Duty had revisited WWII in nearly a decade. But while the game sold well, it didn't generate enough buzz to make the legendary series to return to its roots. In fact, Call of Duty: WWII is one of the few WWII FPS games to receive a physical release on current-gen consoles, meaning it may have marked the end of an era..
WWII FPS titles were once on top of the gaming world, but now, the genre barely clings to life. For this, we may be able to blame oversaturation and lack of innovation in its heyday, as well as the success of Modern Warfare 2. The fact that even a pretty solid game Call of Duty game for current-gen couldn't revive the genre seems to prove that interest for WWII-set shooters has faded into oblivion.