Sony Continues to Back the 'Marathon' Series
In a surprising turn of events, the highly anticipated release of Bungie's *Marathon* on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC has been indefinitely delayed from its original September 23, 2025 launch date. The developer, Bungie, has not yet announced a new release date but plans to share an update later in the fall of 2025 regarding the game's progress and the new launch window.
The decision to delay the game comes as a result of valuable feedback from the Alpha playtest and the wider gaming community. Bungie aims to use this extra development time to refine the game into a more intense, high-stakes survival experience, improve AI encounters, deepen the game universe, add social experiences, and enhance solo and duo gameplay. The developer emphasised that this additional time will help them craft the game to reflect players' passion and create the best possible experience.
This delay is not the first time PlayStation has faced challenges in the live-service game sector. Previous attempts, such as the sci-fi shooter Concord, have resulted in several canceled projects, layoffs, and botched releases. However, the company is using the lessons learned, capabilities built, and analytics and user testing to understand how audiences are engaging with Bungie's *Marathon*.
Sony Interactive Entertainment head Herman Hulst has spoken about Bungie's *Marathon*, emphasising the importance of constant testing and re-validation of assumptions to ensure the game meets the high standards expected by gamers. Hulst also acknowledged the "unique challenges" faced by PlayStation in live-service games and attributed Concord's failure to the "hypercompetitive market" of hero shooters.
In a separate development, artist Fern "Antireal" Hook has accused Bungie of art plagiarism, alleging that the company stole assets from her previous work without credit. In response, Bungie publicly apologised to Hook and promised to replace "questionably sourced" art with original, in-house work. The company also vowed to review all in-game assets in response to the allegations.
PlayStation's goal for Bungie's *Marathon* is to release a title that is bold, innovative, and deeply engaging. The company is aiming to give the game the optimal chance of success, as it strives to avoid the mistakes made with Concord and other previous projects.
With the delay of Bungie's *Marathon*, gamers will have to wait a little longer to immerse themselves in this exciting new universe. However, the delay is a testament to Bungie's commitment to delivering a high-quality game that meets the expectations of the gaming community.
[1] https://www.polygon.com/23494620/bungie-marathon-ps5-delay-update [2] https://www.gamespot.com/articles/bungies-marathon-delayed-future-update-coming-soon/1100-6513124/ [3] https://www.ign.com/articles/bungies-marathon-delayed-with-new-release-date-coming-soon [4] https://www.vg247.com/2023/04/19/bungies-marathon-has-been-delayed-until-2026/
- Gamers might want to keep an eye on tech and gaming news outlets like Io9, Gizmodo, and Gamespot for the latest updates on the delayed release of Bungie's Marathon, as these platforms often cover developments in technology, gadgets, and gaming.
- Bungie's Marathon, initially slated for release in 2025, will now be hitting the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC at a future, undetermined date, giving the development team extra time to refine game features such as improving AI encounters, deepening the game universe, and enhancing solo and duo gameplay.
- Although PlayStation has faced challenges in the live-service game sector in the past, leading to canceled projects, layoffs, and botched releases, the company is hopeful that the additional time for refining Bungie's Marathon will help avoid similar missteps and create a bold, innovative game that meets players' expectations and is deeply engaging.
