Marathon
News, coverage and analysis tracking Marathon across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Weekend Console Download Deals for July 17: PlayStation Summer Sale & Xbox Ultimate Game Sale
This weekend offers significant discounts on PlayStation and Xbox digital libraries, with sales like the PlayStation Summer Sale and Xbox Ultimate Game Sale. Notable deals include discounts on Elden Ring Nightreign, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and various first-party and third-party titles across both platforms. Nintendo also has a sale on the Mortal Kombat Legacy Kollection.
Marathon just lost its game director: Joe Ziegler is Bungie's latest high-profile departure
Marathon game director Joe Ziegler has left Bungie, with Del Chafe III taking over as game director alongside creative director Julia Nardin. Ziegler's departure follows a significant drop in Marathon's player count since its March launch and comes amidst recent layoffs at Bungie. Despite these challenges, Bungie and PlayStation have stated Marathon remains an important part of their portfolio.
Marathon Game Director Leaves Bungie At A Tumultuous Time
Joe Ziegler, the game director for Bungie's upcoming title Marathon, has announced his departure from the studio to pursue a new opportunity. Del Chafe III will take over as game director, working with creative director Julia Nardin. Ziegler's exit occurs during a turbulent period for Bungie, which recently underwent layoffs impacting both the Destiny and Marathon teams.
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.
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.
Hunger is an "Elder Scrolls-style" extraction RPG from the creators of Hell Let Loose, and I'm already sold on its World of Warcraft leanings
Hunger is an upcoming extraction RPG from Good Fun Corporation, the developers behind Hell Let Loose. Director Max Rea describes it as an "Elder Scrolls-style extraction shooter" that blends MMO elements like professions and character progression with the scavenging loop of games like Escape from Tarkov. The game features a unique Napoleonic-era setting ravaged by a plague and focuses on persistent character development over gear wipes.
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.
We're not quite done with 2026, but here are 9 videogame bangers that have defined the year so far
This article highlights standout video game music and soundtracks from the first seven months of 2026, despite a challenging year for the industry. It features tracks from games like Arcade, Mewgenics, Crimson Desert, and Paralives, praising their diverse musical styles and emotional impact.
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.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 10: Palworld exits Steam Early Access
Palworld has officially launched version 1.0 out of Early Access on Steam, accompanied by a launch discount. This article highlights various PC game deals available this weekend across multiple digital storefronts, including Steam, Epic Games Store, Amazon Luna, Fanatical, Gamebillet, GamesPlanet, GOG.com, Green Man Gaming, Humble Bundle, and 2K Publisher Sale.
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.