Sony is continuing to invest in Bungie's sci-fi extraction shooter, Marathon, even as the company conducts layoffs that could affect hundreds of developers at the studio. PlayStation Studios head Hermen Hulst stated in a recent internal letter that Marathon is an "important part of our portfolio" and that the company will continue to support the team building the game.
Hulst's message, shared with staff on June 25, aimed to address the ongoing developer cuts and reassure employees about the future of key projects. "Marathon remains an important part of our portfolio, and we will continue to support the team as they build on the strong foundation established in Season 1 and 2, and as they work on incubation efforts for future projects," Hulst said. He added that while it is "too early to discuss," the company is "encouraged by the creativity and opportunities that lie ahead."
Marathon launched in March to generally positive reviews, praised for its art direction and gameplay concepts. However, the game has faced difficulties attracting and retaining a significant player base, even with subsequent updates, new classes, maps, and modes. The game even went free for a week in an effort to boost interest. Heading into its second season, player engagement has reportedly waned.
In an attempt to broaden its appeal, a player-versus-environment (PvE) only mode is scheduled for July as part of a mid-season update. This mode will allow players to experience the game's end-game dungeon, Cryo Archive, without the pressures of PvP combat and the associated grinding. While some players express concern that this could dilute the game's core identity, others hope it might attract new players and help the game achieve long-term viability.
Bungie has also teased content for a potential Season 3 and has previously indicated long-term story plans. The continued support for Marathon, especially when contrasted with the recent cessation of support for Destiny 2, has led to speculation about Sony's live-service strategy. Hulst's comments also noted that the Marathon team is engaged in "incubation efforts" for new projects, a sentiment echoed in Bungie's own statements regarding the layoffs, which mentioned future games being "still in early incubation."