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Marathon Director Joe Ziegler leaves Bungie
Joe Ziegler, the director of Bungie's Marathon, has announced his departure from the studio, with Del Chafe III taking over as the new game director. Ziegler expressed gratitude to the team and players for their support during the game's development and release. He also mentioned having a new role lined up at another company.
Marathon game director leaves Bungie just 4 months after launch: 'I'll be heading to something new, somewhere…
Joe Ziegler, the game director for Bungie's recently released Marathon, has announced his departure from the company just four months after the game's launch. Del Chafe III will take over as game director, with Ziegler stating he is moving on to a new opportunity. Ziegler's exit, along with that of design lead Lars Bakken, comes at a critical time for Marathon, which is struggling with player counts and is undergoing significant changes including the introduction of PvE gameplay.
Marathon Game Director Joseph Ziegler Is Leaving Bungie
Joseph Ziegler, the game director for Marathon, has announced his departure from Bungie. The news was shared by Ziegler himself, marking a significant change for the development of the upcoming title.
Marathon Vault Breaker Mode Next Week
Bungie announced that a new experimental game mode called Vault Breaker will be added to Marathon in the upcoming Mid-Season 2 Update. The update is scheduled to release next week and will include detailed information about the new mode.
Grieving Destiny 2 players on Steam boosted the game from 32nd place all the way up to 5th for US active users last…
Destiny 2 experienced a significant surge in player engagement on Steam, climbing from 32nd to 5th place in monthly active US users according to data from Mat Piscatella. This boost occurred following Bungie's final update for the game, despite recent layoffs impacting the Destiny 2 team as Bungie shifts focus to Marathon.
Marathon’s Game Director Announces Departure From Bungie
Joe Ziegler, the game director for Bungie's upcoming title Marathon, has announced his departure from the studio. Del Chafe III will be taking over as Game Director, with Creative Director Julia Nardin also assisting in guiding the game forward. Ziegler's departure comes as Marathon faces challenges with player numbers and ongoing development.
Marathon's 'experimental' PvE mode will only be playable for 2 weeks when it goes live in July, full rollout expected to happen sometime in Season 3
Bungie has announced that Marathon's new 'experimental' PvE mode, Vault Breaker, will initially be available for a limited two-week period starting July 21st. The full rollout of this roguelite PvE experience, which introduces unique Sponsored Kits and a new currency system, is planned for Season 3, beginning September 22nd. This limited-time approach aims to gather player feedback before a wider release.
Marathon's experimental PvE roguelite mode is, bafflingly, only around for two weeks when it drops next week
Bungie's upcoming mid-season update for Marathon, arriving next week, will introduce an experimental PvE roguelite mode called Vault Breaker. This mode will be available for a limited two-week period, running from July 21st to August 4th, and will feature players infiltrating vaults to collect Vault Data for upgrades. The update also includes icon refreshes for implants and a new evolution system for The Cradle.
After Destiny 2's death, Warframe head's advice for anyone in live services is to "make a good game…
Warframe's creative director Rebecca Ford advises live-service game developers to focus on creating a good game, citing the recent closure of Destiny 2 as a cautionary tale. She emphasizes that despite developer efforts, business decisions can ultimately dictate a game's fate, a reality she faces daily. Ford highlights Digital Extremes' long-standing success with Warframe, attributing it to a strong internal team and a well-balanced free-to-play model.
What is the start date of Marathon Season 3?
Bungie has announced that Marathon Season 3 will launch on September 22, 2026. This new season will introduce a revamped Perimeter map, a new Runner shell, additional weapons and equipment, and other surprises. Players have until the season's launch to complete the current reward pass and other in-game challenges.
Marathon’s PvE Vault Breaker Mode Takes Rogue-Lite Approach, As Player Numbers Struggle
Bungie is introducing a new PvE mode called Vault Breaker to Marathon on July 21st, featuring rogue-lite progression elements. This mode aims to re-engage players amidst low player counts and recent layoffs, offering rewards like Deluxe and Prestige Weapons through a tiered data system. The success of this update in reviving interest remains to be seen.
Bungie pulls "unfinished" Marathon gun skins, but promises you'll get them back next week
Bungie has temporarily removed four weapon skins from the game Marathon due to unfinished art assets that caused them to appear mostly invisible, particularly the 'RGBully' effect on the Bully SMG. The developer plans to reintroduce the affected Arcana Crusade pack skins in next week's mid-season update, assuring players that ownership is preserved. This update will also include details on the new Vault Breaker mode, balance changes, and weapon adjustments.
Destiny 2 has over 10x more players than Marathon on Steam, despite end of service
Despite Destiny 2 no longer receiving new content updates, it maintains over ten times the concurrent player count on Steam compared to Bungie's newer FPS, Marathon. Destiny 2 currently sees around 47,000 concurrent players, while Marathon has dropped to approximately 2,800, a significant difference from Marathon's launch peak of over 77,000 players.
Destiny 2 Return or Retire Guide 2026 | TAG
This guide helps lapsed Destiny 2 players decide whether to return or retire permanently in 2026, considering the game's changes since late 2024. It advises that retirement is often the best choice for adults with limited time, unless they still love the gunplay, have a dedicated crew, and can commit 8+ hours per week. The article details changes like the episode model, player base decline, and content sunsetting, offering a structured plan for those who choose to return and alternatives for those who don't.
Warframe creative director says Destiny 2's end is tragic, because even with hard work 'the business side of this industry always gets the last remark'
Warframe's creative director Rebecca Ford expressed that the recent layoffs at Bungie and cessation of updates for Destiny 2 are tragic, highlighting how the business side of the industry often dictates outcomes despite developers' hard work. She noted that such decisions are existentially threatening to developers, as seen with Microsoft's closure of Tango Gameworks and other industry-wide cuts.
Warframe lead Rebecca Ford says Destiny 2's death is "horrible news" for everyone: "Not the first time it's happened, and it'll happen again"
Warframe's creative director Rebecca Ford expressed concern over the halt of active development for Destiny 2, viewing it as a negative sign for the live-service game industry. She highlighted how business decisions can override developer passion, even for established titles. Ford also touched upon the broader industry anxieties surrounding layoffs and studio closures, referencing the impact on games like The Elder Scrolls 6.
Get Free Gloriabundus in Destiny 2 Using New Code
Destiny 2 players can claim a free emblem called Gloriabundus using the code F6K-D44-JH4. The code is redeemable on Bungie's official website and requires players to claim the item in-game via the Collections menu. Several other active codes for ornaments, sparrows, ships, shaders, and emotes are also listed.
MMO Business Roundup: Marathon’s lawsuit, the Sony petition, TGS 2026, and Minecraft’s fate
This MMO business roundup covers several key events, including the settlement of a lawsuit filed by former Marathon game director Christopher Barrett against Sony and Bungie. It also highlights an online petition by PNP Games urging Sony to continue supporting physical media, which has garnered a significant number of signatures. Additionally, Nexon announced its presence at Tokyo Game Show, and an article from Gamespot questions Microsoft's strategy for Minecraft's future, suggesting a focus on competing with Roblox could be detrimental.
Destiny 2 players get a final farewell gift from Bungie
Bungie has released the final patch for Destiny 2, marking the end of its active development. The studio is offering players a free in-game emblem called Gloriabundus as a farewell gift. While major updates have ceased, Bungie has stated that critical issues and server maintenance will still be addressed.
How to get the Little Light emblem in Destiny 2
Players can obtain the new 'Little Light' emblem in Destiny 2 by redeeming the code FCX-P94-JCV on the Bungie Code Redemption Page. This emblem is distinct from a previously released one and can be found in the game's Collections under Flair.
