Destiny
News, coverage and analysis tracking Destiny across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Top 12 Most Expensive Video Game Buyouts Of All Time
This article lists the top 12 most expensive video game buyouts, with Microsoft's $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard topping the list. Other major deals include EA's $55 billion sale to an investor consortium and Take-Two's $12.7 billion purchase of Zynga. The analysis highlights trends of industry consolidation and significant investment from entities like Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.
Demos and Freebies
Destiny on PC utilizes physics-based dice rolls for aiming and combat, allowing players to shape their builds and unleash them in chaotic bullet hell encounters. The game focuses on strategic dice placement to create unique builds.
Marathon’s Cryo Archive map has officially been unlocked, it looks like a Destiny raid, and Ben Starr is waiting within
The Cryo Archive, Marathon's endgame map, has been unlocked by the community after a period of grinding and solving an ARG. The map, which opens tomorrow, features a trailer narrated by Ben Starr, the original voice of Durandal. Bungie's new content is expected to offer challenging battles and rewarding loot, drawing comparisons to Destiny's raids.
Marathon takes cues from Helldivers 2, as a cryptic message tells players to kill 500 million UESC to unlock its mysterious Cryo Archive map: "Clankers are back on the menu boys"
Marathon players are nearing the unlock of the hidden Cryo Archive map by eliminating 500 million UESC security units. An in-game message from 'Cryo.Archive_Admin' has provided clear instructions for this task, which follows a Destiny-style ARG puzzle. The community is working towards this goal, with some fans noting the pace has increased since the explicit orders were given.
Marathon’s Ranked Mode Goes Trials of Osiris Route With Weekend Availability, Starts March 21st
Bungie has detailed Marathon's upcoming ranked mode, which will be available only on weekends, starting March 21st. Similar to Destiny's Trials of Osiris, players will earn Ranked Points to progress through various tiers, with rewards based on their highest rank at the end of a season. The mode will feature Low Stakes and High Stakes queues, with different gear requirements and HoloTag tiers influencing matchmaking and loot potential.
The co-creators of Caves of Qud, our favorite roguelike fever dream, worked as narrative consultants on Marathon—which mostly meant they 'got to sit there in the room and throw completely absurd ideas at the wall'
Caves of Qud co-creators Brian Bucklew and Jason Grinblat served as narrative consultants for Bungie's Marathon. They described their role as contributing absurd ideas during preproduction, helping to refine the game's tonal palette and worldbuilding. While not claiming direct credit for specific in-game elements, they felt their influence contributed to the rich semiotics and atmosphere that define Bungie's games.
Marathon UI Designer Fires Back at Claims of Halo, Destiny Developers Not Being Involved
Bungie UI designer Elliot Gray responded to claims that developers involved in Halo and Destiny are no longer with the studio, listing numerous long-term employees. Former Vice President of Destiny, Mark Noseworthy, supported Gray's statements, emphasizing the passing down of cultural and technological legacies within the company.
Marathon dev effortlessly bodies haters who say Bungie's not the studio that made Halo anymore—rattles off 40 Halo OGs who still work there and says he can list more if you want
Bungie UI designer Elliott Gray responded to claims that the studio is no longer the creator of Halo by listing 40 original developers who still work there. Gray stated this is just a partial list of employees who worked on Halo titles and remain at the company. Former Destiny vice president Mark Noseworthy also commented, emphasizing the importance of cultural and technological legacies within a studio.
Marathon Launch Review: Bungie’s extraction shooter is a hostile beast worth taming | VGC
Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, is described as a hostile but rewarding experience. The article touches on the broader gaming landscape, criticizing excessive negativity towards both live service and single-player titles, and uses examples like Destiny, God of War, and The Last of Us to illustrate points about game development and player reception.
This Week's Meager Destiny 2 Update Leaves Fans Feeling Like the Franchise is at Its Lowest Ebb Yet, While Bungie Focuses on Trying to Make Marathon a Success - IGN
Destiny 2 players are expressing frustration over a minimal update while developer Bungie appears to be prioritizing its new game, Marathon. The latest patch for Destiny 2 contained only a single fix, and the game's next major update, Shadow and Order, has been delayed by three months. This situation has led to concerns about the future of Destiny 2, especially following reports of underperformance and a shrinking player base.
Don Daglow and Rebecca Ann Heineman to be honored at 2026 GDCAs
Don Daglow and Rebecca Ann Heineman will be honored at the 2026 Game Developers Choice Awards. The article also discusses Sony's shift towards live service games, leading to the cancellation of multiple projects, and speculates on the timeline for the PlayStation 6 and upcoming Xbox console.
The craft of voice acting with Jennifer Hale
Voice actress Jennifer Hale's work is discussed in the context of Sony's shift towards live service games, leading to the cancellation of multiple titles. The article also touches upon the speculated release timelines for the PlayStation 6 and Xbox's next-generation console, Project Helix.
Bungie snuck a bunch of Halo guns into Marathon
Bungie's new extraction shooter Marathon features numerous subtle and obvious callbacks to the Halo series, including weapons that mirror iconic Halo firearms. While some similarities stem from Bungie's established 'house style,' specific guns like the Magnum MC and BR33 Volley Rifle, along with attachments for the V22 Volt Thrower, are directly inspired by or transform into their Halo counterparts. The article also notes similarities to Destiny's arsenal.
Marathon PS5 vs PS5 Pro Comparison
This opinion piece criticizes the constant negativity surrounding video games, particularly live service titles, arguing that many popular games were not initially requested but were created by developers. The author laments the shift from entertaining reactions to "pathetic" hate campaigns against both single-player and live service games, citing examples like God of War and Wolverine.
Sunday Interviews
Bungie discussed the 'graphic retro futurism' aesthetic for their upcoming game Marathon. The studio also shared that they learned lessons about 'live narrative' from their experience with Destiny.
Marathon secret hunters hit their first gold mine: Spooky terminals, a hidden website, and a Durandal audio log
Bungie's new game Marathon is already featuring community-driven puzzles and alternate reality games, with players discovering hidden terminals and an audio log from the AI Durandal. These clues point towards the 'Cryo Archive,' an upcoming map that appears to be similar to a Destiny raid. The community has also uncovered a hidden website related to the ARG, which Bungie has officially linked to.
Bungie ask Marathon critics to delay "full reviews" till the release of an endgame zone, and I am wistfully reminded of Vault of Glass
Bungie has requested that critics delay full reviews of its new game Marathon until a later endgame zone unlocks in March, a move the author likens to similar tactics used during the launch of Destiny. This request, while not a mandate, is seen as potentially influencing reviewers to soften their critiques, especially given that microtransaction details were also revealed late. The author expresses frustration with what they perceive as marketing manipulation, despite having enjoyed the parts of Marathon they have played.
Marathon Launch Day: Bungie’s Sci-Fi Return Feels Like Destiny Meets Escape From Tarkov
Bungie has launched its new extraction shooter, Marathon, marking its first major new intellectual property since Destiny. The game features full crossplay and cross-save functionality across PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, with pre-loading available and server slam rewards for early players. Marathon aims to bring Bungie's signature gameplay design to the high-stakes extraction shooter genre, potentially redefining it.
Marathon Review In Progress | Console Creatures
This in-progress review of Marathon highlights its potential as an extraction shooter but criticizes its messy UI, confusing onboarding, and high barrier to entry for new players. While the gunplay and abilities are satisfying, the game's visual clutter and lack of clear tutorials detract from the experience. A final judgment awaits the release of the endgame zone, Cryo Archive.
Bungie Addresses Marathon Difficulty Curve, Tells Players That Over Time, Recovering From a Bad Loss Will Get Easier - IGN
Bungie has addressed player concerns regarding the difficulty curve in their extraction shooter, Marathon. The developer explained that while the game is designed to be challenging, progression systems and seasonal resets are intended to make recovery from setbacks easier over time. Players are encouraged to focus on long-term progression and building their character's power floor rather than just immediate loot.
