John Romero's Upcoming Shooter Draws Inspiration From Breath of the Wild

October 30, 2026 - 12:38

John Romero's next shooter managed to survive the recent wave of cancellations at Microsoft, and the veteran developer is now sharing details about what players can expect from the project. According to Romero, the game takes significant inspiration from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, particularly in how it approaches player freedom and exploration.

Romero explained that the team has been studying Nintendo's open world design philosophy closely. The shooter will reportedly emphasize emergent gameplay and give players more agency in how they approach combat encounters and navigate the game world. This marks a notable departure from the more linear structure of traditional shooters, including Romero's earlier work.

The project's survival through Microsoft's restructuring is notable given the widespread cuts across the company's gaming division. Several high profile projects were cancelled during that period, making Romero's shooter one of the fortunate few to continue development.

Romero has been relatively quiet about the project since its initial announcement, but his recent comments suggest the team is deep into production and refining core mechanics. He described the game as ambitious in scope while staying true to the fast paced action roots that defined his career.

Fans of both classic shooters and modern open world design will likely be watching closely to see how these influences come together. No release window has been announced.