Joe Ziegler, the game director for Bungie's newly released title Marathon, has announced his departure from the studio just four months after the game's launch. Ziegler revealed on social media that he is leaving Bungie to pursue new opportunities elsewhere. His role on Marathon will be taken over by Del Chafe III, who was previously the assistant game director. Chafe III will work alongside creative director Julia Nardin to guide the game forward.
In his statement, Ziegler expressed gratitude to the community and the development team for their support during the "windy mission" to create Marathon. He indicated that the project would continue in "new and surprising ways" and thanked players for the "clever ways you've found ways to murder robots and one another."
Ziegler's exit comes at a critical juncture for Marathon, which has reportedly struggled to gain traction since its release. Bungie is currently implementing significant changes to the game, including the introduction of a PvE mode called Vault Breaker, slated for a temporary debut next week and a full rollout in season three. The studio is reportedly facing considerable pressure to turn the game's fortunes around.
This departure marks another high-profile exit from Bungie in recent weeks. Lars Bakken, the former design lead for Marathon and a long-serving developer at the studio with over 20 years of tenure, also left in June to retire from the video game industry. The loss of these key figures, particularly Ziegler who took the reins on Marathon two years ago after joining Bungie in 2022, is seen as a significant blow to the studio, especially given that Marathon is considered an essential title for Bungie's future. Megan Ziegler's departure tweet with an image of the tweet text.