Ex-Tarkov lead says shooters fail when the product itself is weak

The shooter market is crowded, and Dmitri Ogorodnikov thinks the pressure is bigger than ever for new teams trying to break through. The former Escape From Tarkov PR manager, now co-leading Nomion Games, said the studio’s first project, Rush is Real, cannot afford the same problems that hurt recent high-profile shooters.

Speaking to PCGamesN, Ogorodnikov said, “No amount of millions of dollars marketing can save a weak product.” He pointed to examples such as Concord and Highguard as reminders that a big budget and heavy promotion do not fix a game that lacks a clear identity or strong execution.

He also argued that large studios often lean too hard on hype and formulas, which can leave new releases feeling flat. In his view, teams lose too much of the game’s personality when they try to force success by numbers alone. For Nomion, the answer is to focus on the game’s core moments and the ideas behind them. Ogorodnikov said the studio is leaning on its experience from Escape From Tarkov and other major projects, along with what the team already knows about shooter design.

Escape from Tarkov remains the clearest reference point for Ogorodnikov’s background, but Rush is Real is still in prototyping. He said the game is not being built as a rival or a copy of anything else, and that Nomion is trying to stay focused on quality rather than chasing a broad audience. Ogorodnikov added that the studio plans to show more of what it is working on soon. For now, a shooter needs a strong idea and the discipline to support it, not just a large marketing push.

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