Marathon
News, coverage and analysis tracking Marathon across the outlets.
Latest coverage
PlayStation’s Marathon Bet Looks Like It’s Already Backfiring
Marathon, Bungie's extraction shooter, is struggling to maintain player numbers on Steam despite a recent season update and a free week, falling significantly from its launch peak. The game's high development cost, estimated at $200-250 million, coupled with Sony's reported $765 million in impairment losses related to Bungie's portfolio, suggests significant financial pressure. The article questions the viability of Marathon as a live-service title given its hardcore PvP focus and the market saturation, especially after Destiny 2's end of support.
Destiny 2 developer Bungie will be halved in size this summer claims source
Bungie is reportedly planning massive layoffs this summer, potentially affecting at least 50% of its workforce, according to journalist Sylvain Trinel. This follows previous rounds of layoffs and comes amid struggles with the game Marathon and a recent surge in popularity for Destiny 2. Sony Interactive Entertainment, which acquired Bungie in 2022, reported a significant impairment loss related to the studio earlier this year.
Evening Patches
Several games received updates today, including Assassin's Creed Shadows, Killing Floor 3 with its Onslaught Update, and Marathon with update 1.1.0.2. Microsoft Flight Simulator also released its City Update 15 for Illinois.
I wish Bungie would stop designing excellent multiplayer shooters and go back to making fantasy strategy games where you…
This article expresses a desire for Bungie to return to developing strategy games like the Myth series, rather than focusing solely on excellent multiplayer shooters such as their new game Marathon. The author highlights the unique tactical squad management and physics-based combat of Myth, lamenting that the games are not readily available digitally or easily playable on modern systems, unlike Bungie's current output.
Weekend PC Download Deals for June 12: Steam Bullet Fest
This weekend's PC gaming deals include a Steam Bullet Fest celebrating bullet hell and shooter games, alongside sales from various publishers and developers like Capcom, Klei, and Ubisoft. Notable titles on sale include Vampire Survivors, Returnal, and Destiny 2, with free games and bundles also available across platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, and Amazon Luna.
Just what Bungie needed: Marathon Season 2 woes continue as endgame mode Cryo Archive is disabled after players discover…
Bungie has temporarily disabled the Cryo Archive endgame mode in its futuristic shooter Marathon due to an exploit that prevents players from being revived after being downed. This issue follows several other bugs and glitches that have plagued Marathon's second season since its recent launch. The studio is also reportedly facing significant layoffs amidst these ongoing development challenges.
Before you place all the blame on Sony, former Destiny 2 CM says Bungie was 'very close to shutting its doors'…
Former Destiny 2 community manager Liana Ruppert stated that Bungie was on the verge of shutting down before its acquisition by Sony. Ruppert clarified that the studio's financial struggles predated the deal, making the acquisition an emergency measure. Despite Sony's $3.6 billion investment, the studio has faced challenges, including a significant impairment loss related to Destiny 2 and Marathon.
'The Only Way to Keep Bungie Alive Is to Support Marathon,' Ex-Destiny Community Manager Says
A former Bungie community manager believes that supporting the upcoming game Marathon is crucial for the studio's survival, suggesting that issues within the company predate Marathon's development and Sony's acquisition. The manager criticized players for comparing Destiny 2's player count to Marathon's early reception.
Destiny 2 and Bungie as a whole were "very close" to closing before Sony buyout, according to ex-community lead: "It was an emergency acquisition"
Former Bungie community lead Liana Ruppert stated that the company was on the verge of shutting down before Sony's $3.6 billion acquisition in 2022. Ruppert described the buyout as an 'emergency acquisition' that saved both Destiny 2 and Bungie itself. Despite initial independence, Sony recently reported a $765 million impairment loss on the studio.
Fascinating PS5 Sales Estimates Peg Ghost of Yotei as a Triumph
Alinea Analytics has provided sales estimates for first-party PlayStation 5 games, indicating Ghost of Yotei as a significant success with 4.8 million units sold. Other titles like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and MLB The Show 26 also performed well, though Saros and Marathon appear to be underperforming significantly. The data suggests a strong market for Sony's cinematic single-player titles.
Destiny 2's final update causes the biggest jump in players in nearly two years, as Marathon numbers coincidentally drop to near their lowest
Destiny 2's final update, Monument of Triumph, has caused a significant surge in player numbers, reaching nearly 168,000 concurrent players on Steam, the highest in almost two years. This coincides with a drop in players for Bungie's new game, Marathon, which has seen its concurrent player count fall to near its lowest point. The Monument of Triumph update is described as gigantic, bringing back vaulted content and reversing recent unpopular decisions.
Destiny 3 Isn't in Development, But It May Have Been the Most Talked About Game of the Last Week
Despite Destiny 3 not being in development, it was the most talked-about game due to Destiny 2 reaching content completeness and fans petitioning Sony for a sequel. Bungie is now focusing on the poorly performing Marathon, while Sony faces financial write-offs and community frustration over its live service strategy.
Destiny 2's final update sees the MMO hit its highest Steam playercount in two years
Destiny 2's final update, Monument of Triumph, has led to a significant surge in player numbers, reaching its highest concurrent player count on Steam in two years. The update, released on June 9, saw the MMO peak at over 167,000 players, a substantial increase from its pre-update average. This surge marks a notable resurgence for the game as Bungie concludes its support.
Destiny 2's concurrent Steam players nearly doubles Marathon's peak on Monument of Triumph launch
Destiny 2 saw its concurrent player count on Steam nearly double that of Marathon's peak following the launch of its final 'Monument of Triumph' content update. Over 150,000 players logged in to experience the update.
Destiny 2 Hits Highest Player Count in Two Years Following Final Update's Release, Shatters Marathon's All-Time Peak
Destiny 2 has reached its highest player count in two years following the release of its final update. This surge also saw the game shatter the all-time peak player count for Marathon.
Destiny 2 Players Return In Huge Numbers For The Game’s Final Live-Service Update
Destiny 2 has seen a significant surge in player numbers for its final live-service update, Monument of Triumph, which celebrates the game's history. As developer Bungie shifts its focus to the upcoming title Marathon, players are showing renewed engagement with the Destiny franchise.
Destiny 2 hasn't had this many players in years: fans flood the servers as final update sends Bungie's MMO off…
Destiny 2 has seen a massive surge in player numbers following the release of the Monument of Triumph update, marking the end of active development for Bungie's MMO. Player counts on Steam have reached levels not seen since the Final Shape expansion, despite the game's previously low average player base. While the servers will remain online, no further updates are planned, leading to speculation and a fan petition for a Destiny 3.
Destiny 2 Player Count Soars Above Marathon’s Highest Ever As Guardians Log On For Final Update
Destiny 2 has seen a significant surge in player count on Steam, exceeding 160,000 concurrent players with the release of its final content update, "The Monument of Triumph." This peak player count is notably higher than the highest recorded for Bungie's upcoming game, Marathon. Despite some technical issues like server queues and error codes, the strong player engagement indicates continued interest in the game and has fueled discussions about a potential Destiny 3.
Destiny 2's final update – live coverage of the end of an era
Bungie has released the final update, Monument of Triumph, for Destiny 2 after nine years of service. The update brings new features, weapons, and quality-of-life improvements, marking the end of the game's active development. While Destiny 2 will remain playable, there is no immediate announcement for a Destiny 3, with Bungie focusing on incubating new projects.
Gears of War: E-Day's PS5 port is reportedly mostly complete as Xbox only recently decided to U-turn on its console…
A report suggests that a PlayStation 5 port of Gears of War: E-Day is nearly complete, despite Xbox recently deciding to keep the game as an Xbox exclusive. This change in strategy reportedly occurred after Phil Spencer's retirement, with current leadership re-evaluating which single-player games will be ported to other platforms on a case-by-case basis.
