Editing Tactical shooter (section)

==History==
[[File:Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 1998 Gameplay Screenshot.jpg|thumb|[[Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six (video game)|''Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six'']] (1998) has been considered "the first true tactical shooter".<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2010-01-07 |title=The History of Online Shooters |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/01/07/the-history-of-online-shooters |access-date=2023-07-01 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>]]
Features now common to the tactical shooters genre originated in the late 1980s and early 1990s, starting with ''[[Airborne Ranger]]'' (1987) by [[Microprose]]. ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' compared it to the earlier 1985 arcade game ''[[Commando (video game)|Commando]]'', a more typical action shooter of the period, but commented that it was "deeper and more versatile".<ref name="CGW">{{Cite news|date=January 1988|last=Rohrer|first=Kevin|magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]]|title=Airborne Ranger|pages=18}}</ref> The game featured a limited inventory which had to be carefully managed, a variety of mission types which often promoted guile over violence, and the impetus to plan ahead and outmaneuver the enemy—all of which are features common in the tactical shooter genre as a whole. ''Airborne Ranger'' was followed by ''[[Special Forces (video game)|Special Forces]]'' (1992), also by Microprose, which first introduced squad mechanics to the genre. Also considered an early tactical shooter is [[Hostages (video game)|''Hostages'']] (1988) by [[Infogrames]], in which the player takes the role of French [[GIGN]] operatives to besiege and raid an embassy that has been taken over by terrorists, which ''[[Destructoid]]'' compared to the later ''Rainbow Six'' franchise of tactical shooters.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-05 |title=Hostages: The original Rainbow Six Siege |url=https://www.destructoid.com/hostages-the-original-rainbow-six-siege/ |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=Destructoid |language=en-US}}</ref>

The next technical breakthrough came in 1993 with the release of ''[[SEAL Team (video game)|SEAL Team]]'' by [[Electronic Arts]]. This game already offered many of the basic features associated with the genre, including utilizing support elements and vehicular units, and running a real-time simulated environment (with 3D [[Vector graphics]]) that reacts to the player's actions. Experiments in tactical shooter design were sparse over the next five years, and included ''[[Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri]]'', released in 1996—one of first 3D-rendered games with squad-oriented gameplay.<ref name=gamespy>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616045636/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/495/495425p1.html |url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/495/495425p1.html |title=Looking Glass and ''Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri'' |date=May 1, 2001 |url-status=live |archive-date=June 16, 2004 |last=Hiles |first=Bill |work=[[GameSpy]] |access-date=October 26, 2010 }}</ref><ref name=nyt>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124212406/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/03/technology/game-theory-in-free-spirited-play-a-departed-spirit-lives.html |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/08/03/technology/game-theory-in-free-spirited-play-a-departed-spirit-lives.html |last=Olafson |first=Peter |url-status=live |title=GAME THEORY; In Free-Spirited Play, a Departed Spirit Lives |archive-date=January 24, 2011 |date=August 3, 2000 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=October 26, 2010}}</ref>

The first major successes of the genre came in 1998, with games such as ''[[Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six (video game)|Rainbow Six]]'', ''[[Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon (2001 video game)|Ghost Recon]]'', and ''[[Delta Force (video game)|Delta Force]]'', which are credited for defining and refining the genre.<ref name="deltaforce">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/deltaforcetaskforcedagger/review.html |website=GameSpot |title=Delta Force: Task Force Dagger Review |author=Scott Osborne |date=July 16, 2002 |access-date=March 10, 2009 |archive-date=October 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023044344/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/deltaforcetaskforcedagger/review.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="SWAT4">{{cite web |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/578/578604p1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050113060414/http://pc.ign.com/articles/578/578604p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 13, 2005 |title=SWAT 4 Impressions |author=Tom McNamara |website=IGN |access-date=March 10, 2009 |date=January 10, 2005}}</ref><ref name="The Way of the Gun">{{cite web |url=http://folk.uib.no/smkrk/docs/wayofthegun.pdf |title=The Way of the Gun |author=Klevier, Rune |publisher=University of Bergen, Norway |access-date=March 10, 2009 |date=October 16, 2006 |archive-date=February 11, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211084744/http://folk.uib.no/smkrk/docs/wayofthegun.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/delta-force-reloaded/627459p1.html |title=Delta Force Xtreme (PC) |publisher=GameSpy |author=Scott Osborne |date=June 20, 2005 |access-date=March 10, 2009 |archive-date=June 15, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615143850/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/delta-force-reloaded/627459p1.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Other influences on the genre included games such as the [[SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs|''SOCOM ''series]], as well as the [[Police Quest|''SWAT'' series]], a tactical shooter spin-off of the ''[[Police Quest]]'' series of [[adventure game]]s.<ref name="SWAT4"/>

''Rainbow Six'' (1998) in particular has been credited as a revolutionary game which defined the conventions of the tactical shooter genre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=16174 |publisher=UGO |title=Rainbow Six Vegas Review |author=Russ Frushtick |date=November 20, 2006 |access-date=March 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508220614/http://www.ugo.com/ugo/html/article/?id=16174|archive-date=May 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/r/rainbowsixvegas2/20080407-authenticity.htm |title=Embracing the Authenticity of Rainbow Six |publisher=Xbox.com |date=April 8, 2007 |author=Ryan Treit |access-date=March 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100307213440/http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/r/rainbowsixvegas2/20080407-authenticity.htm|archive-date=March 7, 2010}}</ref> The game was inspired by (and, before its connection with [[Tom Clancy]]'s novel [[Rainbow Six (novel)|''Rainbow Six'']], initially focused on) the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] [[Hostage Rescue Team]]. The game was designed to emphasize strategy in a way that would be fun for players without the best reflexes.<ref name="gamasutra01">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3422/postmortem_redstorms_rainbow_six.php |date=January 21, 2000 |access-date=March 10, 2009 |title=Postmortem: Redstorm's Rainbow Six |website=[[Gamasutra]] |archive-date=May 9, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509174534/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3422/postmortem_redstorms_rainbow_six.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> The series has since become a benchmark for the genre in terms of detail and accuracy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nzgamer.com/x360/previews/573/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-vegas-2.html |publisher=nzgamer.com |title=Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 |author=Dene Benham |date=July 3, 2008 |access-date=March 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824092707/http://nzgamer.com/previews/573/tom-clancys-rainbow-six-vegas-2.html|archive-date=August 24, 2017}}</ref>

Some of the most notable tactical shooters have been [[Video game modding|total conversion mods]] of first-person shooters which have been released for free. ''Infiltration'', a total conversion of ''[[Unreal Tournament]]'' (1999), has been described as "turning ''Unreal Tournament''<nowiki/>'s wild cartoon action into a harrowing game of cat and mouse". ''Infiltration'' has been noted for detailed aiming system including hip-fire and sights while lacking a crosshair, different movement stances (running, walking, crouching, and prone, leaning around corners), and a weapon customization feature with a weight penalty.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/unreal-tournament-mods-2628258/ |title=Unreal Tournament Mods |publisher=GameSpot.com |date=November 30, 1999 |access-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-date=October 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027211020/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/unreal-tournament-mods/1100-2628258/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Counter-Strike (video game)|''Counter-Strike'']] (2000), a mod of [[Valve Corporation|Valve]]'s ''[[Half-Life (video game)|Half-Life]]'' (1998), was the most popular multiplayer game of its era, in spite of the release of arcade-style first-person shooters with more advanced graphics engines such as ''[[Unreal Tournament 2003]]''.<ref name="gamespot1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/counter-strike-still-the-top-multiplayer-game-2862428 |title=Counter-Strike still the top multiplayer game |publisher=GameSpot.com |date=November 8, 2000 |access-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-date=October 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027211020/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/counter-strike-still-the-top-multiplayer-game/1100-2862428/ |url-status=live }}</ref> One of the developers of the ''[[Half-Life (video game)|Half-Life]]'' expansions was [[Gearbox Software]], who later released the game ''[[Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30]]'' (2005) that further defined the genre.<ref name="Gamespot">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/brothers-in-arms-road-to-hill-30-review/1900-6120728/|title=Gamespot: Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 review|website=[[GameSpot]]|author=Colayco, Bob|access-date=July 19, 2016|archive-date=March 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319190055/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/brothers-in-arms-road-to-hill-30-review/1900-6120728/|url-status=live}} March 18, 2005</ref><ref name="IGN">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/15/brothers-in-arms|title=Brothers in Arms review|website=[[IGN]]|author=Butts, Steve|date=March 15, 2005 |access-date=July 19, 2016|archive-date=August 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820113758/http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/03/15/brothers-in-arms|url-status=live}} March 15, 2005</ref>  Critics praised the game for not only adding realism to its first-person shooter gameplay, but also in its unique tactical gameplay that allows players to command soldiers and teams during combat.

===Decline and resurgence===
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By the late 2000s, arcade-style casual shooters such as ''[[Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare]]'' (2007) began to prove more popular than classic-style shooters such as ''[[Quake (series)|Quake]]'' and ''[[Unreal (video game series)|Unreal]]'', although the field of true tactical shooters was largely neglected by developers since the mid-to-late 2000s. At that point, most tactical shooter franchises such as ''SWAT'' and ''SOCOM'' were discontinued, while developers such as [[Red Storm Entertainment|Red Storm]] and [[Sierra Entertainment|Sierra]] went defunct or were absorbed by larger companies.

Traditionally tactical shooter series like ''Rainbow Six'' and ''Ghost Recon'' drifted away from tactical realism towards cinematic action-centered themes, as can be witnessed by contemporary ''Rainbow Six'' sequels, which completely do away with the series' pre-action planning stage (last seen in 2003's ''[[Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield|Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield]]'') and the series' established counterterrorism setting as of [[Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege|''Rainbow Six Siege'']] (2015, in updates released later) and [[Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Extraction|''Rainbow Six Extraction'']] (2022); and the futuristic settings of ''[[Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier|Ghost Recon: Future Soldier]]'' (2012), which features invisibility cloaks and shoulder-mounted anti-tank rockets. Even the ''[[Spec Ops (series)|Spec Ops]]'' series, which began as a brutally realistic, almost impenetrably-so, tactical shooter, was transformed into a more cinematic story-focused generic third-person shooter.

In the 2010s, the tactical shooter genre underwent a significant resurgence, propelled by the successful releases of ''[[Arma 3]]'' (2013), ''[[Insurgency (video game)|Insurgency]]'' (2014), and ''[[Squad (video game)|Squad]]'' (2015) early in the decade. This revival gained further traction with later titles, including ''[[Rising Storm 2: Vietnam]]'' (2017), ''[[Insurgency: Sandstorm]]'' (2018), and ''[[Ready or Not (video game)|Ready or Not]]'' (2021), which reinvigorated the genre through the late 2010s and early 2020s. Further examples into the 2020s include Bohemia Interactive's ''[[Arma 4]]'', announced in early 2025 with a planned release in 2027,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arma 4 release date window and latest news |url=<a href="https://www.pcgamesn.com/arma-4/release-date">https://www.pcgamesn.com/arma-4/release-date</a> |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=PCGamesN |date=2025-05-05}}</ref> and ''[[Bellum (video game)|Bellum]]'' (2025), developed by Astarte Industries with a team comprising former developers from ''Arma'', ''Squad'', and ''Ready or Not''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Official Bellum Website |url=<a href="https://playbellum.com">https://playbellum.com</a> |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=playbellum.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dualshockers |url=<a href="https://www.dualshockers.com/indie-arma-competitor-unveils-main-gameplay-mode/">https://www.dualshockers.com/indie-arma-competitor-unveils-main-gameplay-mode/</a> |access-date=2025-05-17 |website=dualshockers.com}}</ref> Tactical shooters continue to sustain a dedicated fanbase, primarily driven by [[Indie game|indie developers]] who emphasize the genre's focus on strategic gameplay and realism.

Outside typical tactical shooters, the game mechanics and realistic simulations of the genre have also been used in [[battle royale game]]s, [[extraction shooter]]s, and [[esports]]-centric games. However, as few of them feature the game design staples of tactical shooters (such as strategic planning, squad-level tactics, slow-paced gameplay, and a realistic premise), they are usually not considered as such. Casual games like ''Rainbow Six Siege'' and ''[[Battlefield V]]'' have also demonstrated "back to roots" philosophies, such as the removal of regenerative health and "3D spotting" in the latter.

Tactical shooters have also been released as [[virtual reality game]]s, such as ''[[Hot Dogs, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades]]'', ''Pavlov VR'', ''Onward'', and ''[[Breachers VR]]''.