Marathon Is Bungie’s Last Chance and It Doesn’t Look Good

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Bungie has had its share of successes and challenges throughout its history. The studio became a leader in console gaming with the original *Halo: Combat Evolved*, and followed that up with a highly regarded trilogy that remains popular today. They continued this strong track record with *Destiny*, which, while not for everyone, significantly changed the landscape of online, continually-updated games. *Destiny* successfully combined the regular content updates of massive online games with Bungie’s signature satisfying shooting mechanics, offering a promising formula for live-service titles. *Destiny 2* built on this foundation, aiming to deliver years of engaging gameplay that few other developers could match.

Over time, instead of thriving, Bungie started to struggle. *Destiny 2* lost many loyal fans due to frustrating choices about how the game was funded and balanced. Their next major project, *Marathon*, initially generated a lot of excitement, but recent issues – including disagreements, company choices, and unstable early testing – suggest Bungie might be losing its momentum, especially with the delays to *Marathon’s* release.

Bungie’s Struggle After Destiny’s Decline

When *Destiny* was first released in 2014, Bungie created a groundbreaking game. It uniquely blended the engaging action of a first-person shooter with the expansive, long-term appeal of a massively multiplayer online game – an innovation that had the potential to shape a generation of gaming. And in many ways, it did just that. *Destiny* and its sequel attracted a remarkably loyal community of players, solidifying Bungie’s reputation as a leading game developer.

I wasn’t typically into shooter or massively multiplayer online games, but even I found myself completely hooked on *Destiny 2*. I’ll never forget my first raid, Leviathan. We were about to fail the Castellum section – my friend was carrying the final flag, and time was running out. We cleared the last wall just in time, and my Stormcaller Warlock’s special ability wiped out the enemies, letting us secure the win. It’s one of my all-time favorite gaming moments, especially considering I wasn’t a big fan of those genres. That’s how powerful Bungie used to be, which makes its current struggles so disappointing.

Running a game that’s constantly updated and supported is incredibly demanding, and Bungie struggled with this. While *Destiny 2* had a dedicated fanbase, many found it disappointing as a sequel. It didn’t introduce new character classes, and its initial launch was problematic, leaving fans feeling let down. Subsequent expansions didn’t help, as they often felt inconsistent and recycled old storylines without delivering satisfying conclusions. These issues, combined with gameplay imbalances, frustrated many players.

While *Destiny 2* damaged Bungie’s previously excellent reputation, low employee morale and job cuts made things even worse. There was intense pressure to create something new and exciting, and many people – myself included – thought *Marathon* could be Bungie’s path to recovery. We hoped it would recapture the creativity and quality that first made the company famous.

Why Marathon’s Failure Could Be the Endgame

Launching *Marathon* appeared to be a smart decision for Bungie. It allowed them to revisit a beloved early game while also trying out new concepts. They bravely entered the growing extraction shooter genre, which was already popular with games like *Escape from Tarkov* and *Hunt: Showdown*. Even more interestingly, they combined this genre with hero-shooter elements, letting players choose characters with special powers. This was a gamble, as extraction shooters are hard to get right – they need the right level of challenge, a good flow, and satisfying gameplay. It’s also tough to appeal to all types of players, from those who play casually to those who are highly competitive, and those who prefer to play alone or with a team.

The real problem is that Bungie is losing the trust of its fans. While issues with *Destiny 2* already strained that trust, recent actions suggest they’re actively damaging their reputation. Though controversial gameplay choices – like restricting access based on player skill, excluding solo play, and drastically changing the *Marathon* universe – are concerning, the problems with how the game is *made* are far worse. Accusations of stolen artwork, cancelled developer broadcasts, and last-minute marketing changes reveal serious internal issues and have left many fans, including myself, worried about the future of Bungie.

Even with all the challenges, I really want *Marathon* to be a success. If it fails, it could have serious consequences for Bungie, potentially even leading to the studio closing down. Fortunately, Sony has shown increased interest and investment in both *Marathon* and Bungie, which could be a lifeline. However, Sony isn’t perfect – their attempt to focus on live-service games didn’t go well, resulting in canceled projects and the shutdown of *Concord*. Hopefully, they’ve learned from those mistakes and will apply those lessons to *Marathon*.

For decades, Bungie has been a key player in the gaming world. Their game *Marathon* isn’t just a classic; it proves the studio can still lead with new ideas, excellent shooting mechanics, and compelling stories. Now, Bungie’s success depends on their upcoming extraction shooter, but it faces challenges from both competing games like *Arc Raiders* and issues within the studio itself. If *Marathon* doesn’t succeed, it could mean failure for Bungie and damage the strong reputation they’ve built over thirty years.

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2025-09-27 18:17