Battlefield 6 be damned, Wraith Ops is the hardcore FPS you've been waiting for

It’s a funny old time for fans of FPS games. The shift to live service, seasons passes, and an endless stream of new content has pretty much ensured that the majority of modern shooters have become more of an obligation than anything else.

Don’t log in every day? You’re probably going to end up regretting that. But who wants to go back to a game every day because they feel like they have to? Not this guy.

At the same time, it’s a tricky thing, tapping into the nostalgia of the halcyon days of shooters like Call Of Duty 2 and Counter Strike. In doing so, you’re going after a very particular group of gamers - one who knows exactly what they like and just how they like it.

Enter Wraith Ops, a new indie shooter from the aptly named Grassrootz Studio and published by Team17.

Wraith Ops - formerly known as Project Wraith - is positioning itself as an old-school FPS inspired by the greats. Think Battlefield 3 and Call Of Duty before it became common to see anime skins and King King crossover events.

“We're getting rid of as many frustrating elements of modern FPS games,” the team proclaims on Steam. “Focused purely on infantry combat, expect constant action. Zero anti-consumer nonsense. Remember the golden era? Welcome back to the roots of what made gaming fun.”

Having recently met some Grassrootz at a behind-closed-doors event, it’s clear these guys came together because they wanted to build a game they wanted to play, which is as good a reason as any to do it. But if you invoke that “golden era”, you inevitably invite comparisons to beloved classics. That’s a risky business.

If nothing else, Grasrootz is incredibly confident and - perhaps most importantly of all - have a very clear vision in terms of what they’ll offer players at launch: A set number of perfectly polished maps, tight, reactive gameplay, and the promise that you can jump into the game regardless of skill level or hours logged and still have a good time.

Essentially, Wraith Ops aims to strip away all the filler that has plagued more recent live service shooters and offer a tight, focused experience that’s all about the action. There are less perks, for instance, but the perks that are in the game have a greater impact on gameplay. There are dynamic weather effects designed to flush out campers and keep games fast and fluid. TTK is quick, and headshots matter.

We’re still waiting on a release date, but based on what I’ve seen? Wraith Ops could scratch an itch you didn’t even know you had.