Bungie Studio Head Poria Torkan and Josh Dean, Head of Product and GM of Marathon, have outlined a renewed vision for the studio's extraction shooter, Marathon. In a video message released on September 21, Torkan and Dean emphasized their commitment to evolving the game, acknowledging that its initial launch did not reach the desired player base.
"It didn’t reach as many players as we’d hoped,” Torkan stated. “But we also know and understand that the game needs to evolve.” Dean elaborated on this sentiment, revealing plans to expand Marathon into a deeper survival experience. The goal is to offer players more agency within both PvE and PvP modes, preserving existing beloved elements while introducing new ways to engage with the alien world. Bungie aims to achieve these enhancements by the end of Marathon's first year.
This strategic shift follows the decision to delay Marathon's next major update from late September to December. Bungie confirmed in a blog post that its October Nightfall Refresh and December Symbiosis update for Destiny remain on track, with further details on the future of Marathon expected later in the week. The studio also reiterated its commitment to Destiny, assuring players that the game will not be replaced by Marathon.
Marathon has faced challenges since its March launch. Despite critical acclaim, player counts have remained relatively low, with SteamCharts indicating an average of around 1,390 active players in the last 24 hours, a peak of 2,630. This contrasts sharply with Destiny 2's larger player base, prompting Bungie's focus on reshaping Marathon.
Bungie also addressed concerns regarding Destiny 2, confirming that the studio intends to continue telling stories within the Destiny universe, returning to its original promise of mystery and discovery. This comes after Bungie announced in May that it would be ending future content updates for Destiny 2, a decision that initially left players uncertain about the IP's future.
These announcements arrive amidst significant internal changes at Bungie. In June, the studio underwent substantial layoffs, affecting members of both the Destiny and Marathon teams. Bungie also announced plans to sublease a portion of its Bellevue, Washington headquarters. With a redefined focus on Destiny and a clear direction for Marathon, Bungie appears poised to enter a new phase of development.