Remember Marathon? It's the next big project from Destiny developer Bungie, and it seems we're on the verge of getting a deeper look into this highly anticipated game.
Marathon is a PvP-focused extraction shooter set on the enigmatic planet of Tau Ceti IV. Players take on the roles of Runners, cybernetic mercenaries engineered to withstand the planet’s harsh conditions, as they explore the remnants of a lost colony on Tau Ceti's surface.
It's been a while since we last heard about Marathon. In October, Bungie provided a detailed development update video that offered insights into the game's mechanics, but emphasized that the project was still in its early stages. At that time, player character models were still being refined, and enemy models were in their initial development phase.
Now, six months later, it appears Bungie is ready to unveil more about what they've been working on. A tweet from the official Marathon account recently shared a cryptic image along with distorted audio signals. Fans have spotted ASCII art reminiscent of footage from the debut Marathon trailer. Given Bungie's reputation for intricate teasers, hidden clues, and Easter eggs, there's likely much more to uncover, and the community is already diving in to decode the message.
Despite these promising updates, Marathon's development has not been without its challenges. The game was first revealed in May 2023 as a reboot of the classic Bungie franchise, promising themes of "mysteries, eeriness, and psychological creepiness." However, Bungie has faced several controversies in recent years, including significant layoffs. In July 2024, the company laid off 220 staff members, which accounted for 17% of its workforce—a move that drew criticism from industry peers. This followed another round of layoffs in the previous year, which left the studio's atmosphere "soul-crushing," according to staff.
Further complicating matters, a report emerged weeks after the 220 layoffs alleging that former Marathon director Chris Barrett was fired following an internal misconduct investigation at Bungie. Barrett subsequently filed a lawsuit against Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie, seeking over $200 million in damages.
These developments coincide with Sony's strategic shift away from live-service games. In November 2023, Sony president Hiroki Totoki announced that the company would focus on launching only six of the twelve live service games initially planned by March 2026. This shift led to the cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer game.
While Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 became a massive success, selling 12 million copies in just 12 weeks and becoming the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game ever, other Sony live service titles either faced cancellation or disastrous launches. Notably, Sony's Concord turned out to be one of the biggest flops in PlayStation history, lasting merely a couple of weeks before being taken offline due to extremely low player counts. Eventually, Sony decided to terminate the game and shut down its developer.
Earlier this year, Sony reportedly canceled two more unannounced live service games: one a God of War title being developed by Bluepoint, and another from the Days Gone developer Bend.
Are you excited for Marathon? Let us know!
This comprehensive update on Marathon showcases its intriguing setting and gameplay, while also highlighting the significant challenges faced by Bungie and Sony in the broader gaming industry landscape.
