Competitive shooters have long been a cornerstone of the gaming landscape, capturing a significant share of the eSports audience. Titles like Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, Apex Legends, Overwatch 2, Fortnite, and Rainbow Six Siege have maintained their large player bases thanks to their distinct gameplay experiences. Unlike more time-intensive genres like MMORPGs, shooters offer a more accessible entry point, though they must rely on unique and engaging mechanics to retain their player base.

With CS2 and Valorant setting high standards for the genre, new entrants need to strike a balance between innovation and competitive integrity to capture and hold the attention of players. Here are some of the upcoming competitive shooters that bring fresh mechanics and exciting gameplay, promising to be the next big hits in the genre.

Marvel Rivals

One of the most anticipated titles is Marvel Rivals, a third-person shooter (TPS) set in the Marvel universe, developed by NetEase Games and Marvel Games. The game features a wide array of heroes and villains from across the multiverse, who gather to prevent Doctor Doom and Doom 2099 from taking over their realities.

Marvel Rivals draws heavy inspiration from Overwatch 2, incorporating familiar elements and mechanics, such as hero roles, abilities, and various game modes. Currently, 23 playable characters have been announced, allowing players to engage in 6v6 battles across three game modes: Domination, Convoy, and Convergence.

• Domination: Similar to OW2’s Control, where two teams compete to capture and hold an objective point in a best-of-three format.
• Convoy: The game’s equivalent of OW2’s Escort, where teams take turns pushing or defending against a payload across three total check points.
• Convergence: A hybrid mode that combines the objectives of the Domination and Convoy.

Where Marvel Rivals stands out is its unique Dynamic Hero Synergy and Creative Environment Destruction. Dynamic Hero Synergy allows players to perform unique abilities when certain heroes and villains are paired on the same team. For example, Hulk’s Gamma energy can power up Iron Man’s suit to dish out greater damage. Meanwhile, Creative Environment Destruction lets players manipulate the environment, reshaping terrain to gain a strategic advantage and create new tactics during gameplay.

Marvel Rivals is set to launch as a free-to-play game on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Although a release date has not been announced, the game has already undergone closed alpha and beta testing and is expected to arrive sometime in Q1 or Q2 of 2025.

Strinova

Strinova is a free-to-play, anime-style tactical TPS developed by iDreamSky, currently only available to play in China. Originally released in August of 2023, the developers have announced plans for a worldwide launch, anticipated in late 2024 or early 2025.

The game features a variety of game modes, including payload, capture the flag, and team deathmatch, but its main ranked mode centers around the standard 5v5 bomb-defusal gameplay found in CS2 and Valorant. Like Valorant, Strinova offers a roster of characters known as Superstrings, each equipped with unique skills, passives, and ultimate abilities. However, unlike Valorant, players cannot purchase different primary weapons each round; instead, each Superstring comes with a specific weapon. For example, those looking to use sniper rifles must select characters like Kokona or Kanami.

The game’s characters are divided into three factions: Painting Utopia Security (PSU), The Scissors, and Urbino. PSU characters are exclusive to defense, The Scissors characters are only for offense, and Urbino characters can be used in either role.

What sets Strinova apart from other 5v5 bomb-defusal shooters is its unique multi-dimensional feature, known as stringification, which allows characters to switch between 3D and 2D forms. The 2D form, also referred to as paper mode, makes it harder for enemies to target players and provides the ability to climb walls and glide. Additionally, when characters are defeated, they enter a ‘knocked-down’ state similar to Apex Legends, offering a brief window for revival.

Spectre Divide

Another highly anticipated title is Spectre Divide, a free-to-play tactical FPS developed by Mountaintop Studios in collaboration with popular streamer and former CS professional, Shroud. The game stands out with its unique cel-shaded art style, which evokes a blend of classic comic book aesthetics with a touch of Borderlands' visual flair.

Spectre Divide’s main feature is its Duality mechanic, which players will use in its 3v3 bomb-defusal game mode. Duality allows players to create a "Spectre," or clone, of their character on the map. Unlike the static clones found in Valorant, players in Spectre Divide can freely switch control between their original character and the Spectre. The inactive body remains stationary but will alert the player to enemy activity within its vicinity and line of sight, adding a layer of strategic depth. This mechanic not only requires players to master the art of swapping between two units but also offers a second chance in each round if one body is eliminated. Each unit can carry its own set of weapons, utilities, and armor, and as long as one survives, both sets of equipment are retained.

There are currently a total of eight classes, called Sponsors, in the game. Each Sponsor provides different utilities and roles, including healers, entry-fraggers, site-anchors, supports and more.

• MUU Robotics
• Ryker Industries
• Vector Dynamics
• Pinnacle International
• Morrgen United
• Umbra Reconnaissance
• Bloom Technologies
• Ghostlink Collective

While a release date has yet to be announced, the closed beta held in August 2024 has already given players a glimpse of the innovative gameplay that Spectre Divide promises to bring to the competitive shooter scene.

Splitgate 2

Splitgate 2 is the upcoming sequel to the popular FPS developed by 1047 Games. Building on the success of the original, the sequel will retain its portal mechanics while introducing several new features to elevate the gameplay experience.

One of the standout additions in Splitgate 2 is the introduction of three distinct factions, each offering unique abilities that cater to different playstyles. Aeros is designed for players who favor mobility and entry fragging, akin to Jett from Valorant. Meridian focuses on support, providing abilities like healing and vision through walls, while Sabrask offers defensive capabilities such as shields and grenades, making it ideal for players who prefer a more strategic, protective role.

The sequel also promises to ramp up the pace and fluidity of combat by introducing new movement mechanics like sliding, which should add to the dynamism and intensity of matches. With 1047 Games having expanded their development team to include industry veterans from companies like Riot Games and 343 Industries, they are committed to delivering a high-quality experience that surpasses its predecessor.

Splitgate 2 is slated for a 2025 release on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, with closed alpha testing scheduled for August 2024.

Special Mention: Deadlock (Valve)

Deadlock is Valve’s latest secret project that has generated considerable buzz prior to its recent official announcement on August 23, 2024. The game is currently only available for testing through private friend invites on Steam. Those fortunate enough to participate get to experience a unique hero shooter that blends gameplay elements from titles like Dota 2, Team Fortress 2, and Overwatch 2.

The game can be described as a fast-paced, third-person-shooter MOBA with a modern TF2 aesthetic. Unlike traditional MOBAs, Deadlock features a map with four lanes of minions and towers. Players can travel quickly across the map using a zipline above each lane, enabling swift returns to battle.

There are currently 21 unique heroes available for playtesting, each equipped with four abilities, including an ultimate. Like in most MOBAs, players can purchase items to augment their power using currency, called souls, earned from killing minions and enemy heroes. The game features three types of item slots—Weapon, Vitality, and Spirit—each with four available slots. Additional slots can be earned by fulfilling conditions such as destroying enemy Walkers (towers) or Base Guardians (base towers).

Despite Valve releasing few details about Deadlock, the game has already garnered significant attention, with over 40,000 daily peak players on Steam charts as of this article. Needless to say, players are certainly excited for Valve’s new project, and are eagerly awaiting more information on its release.

Conclusion

That concludes the list of competitive shooters to watch out for in the near future. For fans of the genre, titles like Strinova, Spectre Divide, Splitgate 2, and Valve's secretive Deadlock look poised to deliver fresh and innovative experiences.