Joe Ziegler, the game director for Bungie's upcoming title Marathon, has announced his departure from the studio to pursue a new opportunity. His exit comes at a challenging time for Bungie, which recently underwent a round of layoffs.
Ziegler shared that Del Chafe III, previously assistant game director, will assume the role of game director for Marathon. Chafe III will collaborate with creative director Julia Nardin to steer the project forward. Ziegler expressed confidence in their leadership, stating, "Both of them have been operating in a strong leadership capacity for the team and are ready to guide Marathon into the next chapter with an even better and brighter future."
He described his own departure as a move "to something new, somewhere else," with plans to announce his next role soon. Ziegler also conveyed his gratitude to the team and players, acknowledging the "windy mission" to realize the game's vision. "The mission will continue in new and surprising ways so stay tuned for what this team has in store for you!" he added.
This is not the first change in leadership for Marathon. Ziegler took over from Christopher Barrett, who was previously game director before being dismissed due to misconduct allegations. Barrett recently settled his case with Bungie and Sony.
Ziegler joined Bungie in late 2022 after a twelve-year tenure at Riot Games. Bungie, now owned by Sony, has faced a difficult period, including workforce reductions in late June that affected both the Destiny and Marathon development teams. The studio has not yet provided a new release window or platform details for Marathon.