FPS News Roundup: Metro 2039 Leaks, Pragmata Reviews, and Fairgame$

By ModVC Staff | Friday, April 17, 2026 | 18:00

Welcome back, shooters and looters. The ModVC Team is back with your ultimate Friday roundup of everything happening in the world of first-person shooters, tactical combat, and action-heavy sci-fi. April 2026 is rapidly shaping up to be one of the most defining months in the modern gaming landscape. From highly anticipated review embargoes finally lifting to unexpected genre pivots from major studios, the news cycle this week has been nothing short of relentless.

Whether you are a hardcore tactical operator checking your corners in early access, a nostalgic fan running through classic campaigns, or someone eagerly awaiting the next generation of narrative-driven survival shooters, we have you covered. Grab your loadouts and let's dive into the biggest stories of the week.

The Heavy Hitters: Metro 2039 Leaks and Pragmata's Bizarre Brilliance

Let's start with the blockbuster news. For months, rumors have been swirling about the next generation of survival shooters, and it seems the floodgates have finally opened. Following a major leak reported earlier this week, PlayStation LifeStyle confirmed that the PS5 is slated to receive the next mainline entry in a beloved action-shooter franchise later in 2026.

We now have strong visual evidence pointing toward Metro 2039. The visual fidelity on display in the leaked screenshots is staggering, showcasing exactly what current-generation hardware can do when pushed to its limits by an experienced development team.

Taking players back to the irradiated, unforgiving surface of post-apocalyptic Russia, the purported Metro 2039 looks to expand the sandbox survival elements seen in Metro Exodus while returning to the claustrophobic, nail-biting tension of the original titles. The environmental storytelling evident in the frozen ruins and mutated landscapes suggests a game that will test both your trigger finger and your resource management skills.

But the terror isn't just on the surface. Additional assets reveal the deeply unsettling underground environments that made the franchise iconic. The volumetric lighting piercing through the irradiated dust of the Moscow metro system, combined with high-resolution textures of the decaying infrastructure, paints a bleak but beautiful picture of what's to come.

Meanwhile, in the realm of sci-fi action, the review embargo for Capcom's enigmatic Pragmata has finally lifted, and the critical consensus is incredibly strong. Stephen Totilo of Game File praised the experience, noting his "13 exquisitely-paced hours" with the title. He highlighted how Capcom's fantastic new sci-fi action game successfully builds upon its own unique ideas, bearing the unmistakable polish of a development budget exceptionally well spent.

Over at PC Gamer, reviewers spent upwards of 18 hours exploring the game's mechanics, affectionately referring to the core loop as "shepherding my space daughter." Pragmata is being hailed as a gloriously weird game—one that evokes the golden era of ambitious, risk-taking action games from two decades ago, while simultaneously breaking new ground in level design and companion AI mechanics. It is a breath of fresh air in a market often dominated by safe sequels.

Upcoming Blockbuster Action/Shooter Roster (2026)

The Extraction Shooter Evolution: Fairgame$ and Disney?

If there is one genre that continues to aggressively mutate and consume the market, it is the extraction shooter. However, the path to success in this space is fraught with peril, a fact that Sony's Haven Studios seems to be navigating in real-time.

According to Instant Gaming News, Fairgame$—which was originally announced back in 2023 as a competitive heist game heavily inspired by the Payday formula—has reportedly pivoted entirely into an extraction shooter. This massive shift in design philosophy speaks volumes about current market trends. The developers likely looked at the longevity of titles in the extraction space and decided that the risk-reward loop of entering a map, securing loot, and fighting to an exfil point offered a more sustainable live-service model than traditional localized heists.

Speaking of the extraction shooter craze, the rumor mill provided one of the most bizarre headlines of the year. WDW News Today reported that Epic Games is allegedly developing an extraction shooter starring Disney characters. Yes, you read that correctly. While we advise taking this with a massive grain of salt, the sheer concept of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck holding down an extraction zone while fending off rival squads for high-tier loot is a fever dream we can't quite shake. If true, it proves that no intellectual property is immune to the lure of the extraction genre.

Tactical Realism: Gray Zone Warfare, Bellum, and Stalker 2

For players who prefer their engagements methodical, punishing, and hyper-realistic, this week delivered several massive updates. MADFINGER Games has officially launched the PC Early Access for Gray Zone Warfare. Thumb Culture's recent preview highlights the game's persistent world and deeply tactical mechanics. Whether you are running missions solo or coordinating with a dedicated squad, the emphasis on realistic ballistics, complex medical systems, and slow-paced exploration is resonating strongly with the hardcore community.

But Gray Zone isn't the only game looking to claim the tactical crown. Keep an eye on Bellum, an upcoming realistic PvP FPS featuring platoon-scale warfare. The pedigree behind this title is staggering, boasting a development team comprised of former developers from Arma, Squad, Ready or Not, and Ground Branch. When you assemble a supergroup of developers from the most respected tactical shooters in history, the resulting project demands immediate attention.

We also want to shine a spotlight on indie darling MidnightGunsFPS. Their development team took to social media today, promising to deliver "the crunchiest, tastiest Tactical FPS to be had." It's always refreshing to see smaller studios stepping into the ring against industry titans, relying on tight gunplay and community feedback rather than massive marketing budgets.

And we cannot discuss tactical survival without mentioning the impending, colossal presence of Stalker 2. The atmosphere, the brutal anomaly mechanics, and the unforgiving AI are poised to set a new benchmark for single-player tactical immersion later this year.

Tactical FPS Vanguard Comparison

Retro Charms and Stylized Violence: Mouse P.I. For Hire

Not every shooter needs to feature photorealistic graphics and complex bullet drop physics. Sometimes, you just need a tommy gun and an incredible art style. Yesterday, April 16th, marked the highly anticipated release of Mouse: P.I. For Hire.

Developed by Fumi Games, this title captured the gaming world's attention during its initial reveal thanks to its meticulous recreation of 1930s rubber-hose animation. TierraGamer recently published an excellent guide offering tips for your first steps in this "boomer shooter de caricatura." The visual gimmick is flawlessly executed, but more importantly, it's backed up by fast-paced, chaotic, and satisfying gameplay that pays homage to the golden age of 90s era shooters. It is a masterclass in aesthetic commitment.

Industry Retrospectives & Unbeatable Deals

While we look to the future, it's fascinating to look back at what could have been. A recent retrospective by Mein-MMO illuminated the rocky development history of Ubisoft's The Division. While it is now firmly established as one of the premier live-service loot shooters on the market, developers revealed that it was originally pitched and developed as a massive, World of Warcraft-style MMO. It was slated to completely forgo the traditional real-time action gameplay that characterizes every modern shooter in favor of tab-targeting and strict RPG mechanics. It's a fascinating "what if" scenario that highlights how drastically a game's identity can shift during production.

In deal news, if you somehow don't already own it, you need to head over to Steam immediately. Notebookcheck reports that the legendary Halo: The Master Chief Collection is currently available for just $10. That is six genre-defining, legendary sci-fi shooters at a massive 75% discount, marking its lowest price ever. Whether you want to relive the iconic campaigns or dive into the still-thriving multiplayer ecosystems, it's the easiest ten dollars you will ever spend in gaming.

The Best Shooter Deals & Drops This Week

In Other News: Hollywood Meets Real-World Crime

While we at ModVC strictly cover the digital realm of gaming, a bizarre story adjacent to our industry crossed the news desk today. According to reports from WBTV and WHSV, an actor known for their role in The Hunger Games film franchise was arrested in a Raleigh neighborhood in North Carolina this past week. Records indicate the actor is accused of shooting at a vehicle from an e-bike. It is a strange, sobering reminder of real-world violence that stands in stark contrast to the digital escapism we normally discuss here.

🎥 Essential Weekend Watchlist

To wrap up this week's briefing, if you are looking to expand your wishlist and see some of these titles in motion, check out these excellent roundups from our favorite creators in the community. JarekTheGamingDragon also has a fantastic deep dive into the upcoming 2026 FPS slate that is well worth your time.

• 15 NEW First Person Shooter Games of 2026 You NEED TO PLAY by GamingBolt
• The Best New Shooter Games You Should Not Miss in 2026! by TheCadWoman
• Top Upcoming FPS Games of 2026 - Boomer Shooters and more! by KIRK COLLECTS

Sources

• Instant Gaming News: Fairgame$ parece haberse convertido en un shooter de extracción
• TierraGamer: Mouse: P.I. For Hire consejos para tus primeros pasos
• Game File | Stephen Totilo: 13 exquisitely-paced hours with Pragmata
• Notebookcheck: 6 games for $10 on Steam
• Thumb Culture: Gray Zone Warfare – PC Early Access Preview
• PlayStation LifeStyle: PS5 Getting New Game in Beloved Action Franchise

Stay frosty out there, players. The ModVC Team will be back next week with more deep dives, industry leaks, and review roundups.