Core Insights - The domestic shooting game market is experiencing significant growth from late 2024 to 2025, with Tencent's products like "Delta Action" achieving 20 million DAU within a year, and "Peace Elite" seeing over 30% year-on-year growth in Q2 2025 [1][11][12] - The emergence of the "search, fight, and retreat" gameplay has contributed to this boom, alongside the rapid iteration of "hero shooter" products and the IP development of battle royale games [4][10][19] Industry Trends - The shooting game genre has historically been popular due to its broad audience and rapid adoption of new technologies and gameplay innovations [3][19] - The "search, fight, and retreat" gameplay, which has matured over the past year, is a key factor in the current market prosperity, with many companies launching projects in this category [4][10] Gameplay Evolution - The "search, fight, and retreat" gameplay originated from the 2016 game "Escape from Tarkov," which, despite its complexity, laid the groundwork for this genre [5][7] - The success of "PUBG" in 2017 helped popularize elements of this gameplay, making it more accessible to a wider audience [9][10] Market Dynamics - Major companies like Tencent and NetEase are leading the charge in the "search, fight, and retreat" segment, with Tencent's "Delta Action" achieving significant milestones in DAU and revenue [11][12] - The high entry barriers in the shooting game market mean that only large and mid-sized companies can afford to invest in this genre, limiting competition [12][19] Future Directions - The FPS genre is expected to evolve, with potential shifts towards PvE experiences and narrative-driven gameplay, as the current "search, fight, and retreat" trend may reach its peak [20][22] - The industry is exploring the integration of "search, fight, and retreat" mechanics into various game types, indicating a broader influence on game design [17][19] Financial Insights - In the first half of 2025, shooting games accounted for 6% of the top 100 mobile games by revenue, but contributed 17.03% of total revenue, highlighting the significant financial impact of a few successful titles [27]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a significant and severe plagiarism incident involving Bungie's upcoming game "Marathon," where the design elements were allegedly copied from a designer's previous works without authorization [1][5][22]. Group 1: Incident Overview - "Marathon," a sci-fi shooter game developed by Bungie, recently opened for closed alpha testing and is expected to be released in September [2][3]. - The game has attracted attention due to its striking sci-fi art style, which features high saturation colors and complex graphics, leading to over 20 million views on its first trailer [3][4]. - A designer named "Antireal" accused Bungie of unauthorized use of her designs, which she has developed since 2017, claiming that many assets in "Marathon" were directly taken from her work [6][7][10]. Group 2: Response and Acknowledgment - Bungie acknowledged the plagiarism shortly after Antireal's claims, stating they had discussed the issue with her and were committed to "seeking justice" for her [22][23]. - The responsibility for the plagiarism was attributed to a "former Bungie artist," with the current art team reportedly unaware of the issue [24][25]. - Antireal's claims gained traction online, with many encouraging her to crowdfund for legal action against Bungie, highlighting the community's support for her [18][19]. Group 3: Historical Context and Implications - Bungie has a history of plagiarism allegations, including incidents involving fan art and other creative works, which raises concerns about the company's reputation [27][28]. - The current situation has created a "hostile environment" within Bungie, as employees worry about the potential failure of "Marathon" and its impact on the studio's future [42][48]. - The development timeline for "Marathon" may be affected due to the need for a thorough review of the game's assets, potentially delaying its release [43][44].