Marathon
News, coverage and analysis tracking Marathon across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Marathon reconsiders bug abuse approach after player uses Cryo Archive exploit to butcher an entire team
Bungie is reviewing its policy on punishing players for exploiting game bugs following an incident in Marathon where a player used an out-of-bounds exploit on the Cryo Archive map to eliminate an entire squad. While the studio plans to patch the exploit and compensate affected players, they are reassessing their stance on taking action against players who leverage bugs, especially those that negatively impact others and compromise competitive integrity.
Marathon Review
Bungie's reboot of its 90s franchise, Marathon, is an extraction shooter that struggles to stand out in a crowded genre. While the gunplay is solid and reminiscent of Destiny, the game's narrative is poorly integrated, and its visual aesthetic, particularly the neon colors and blocky gear design, is an acquired taste. Server issues and a lack of map variety also detract from the experience, making it unlikely to be a memorable title for long.
Marathon risks watering down its best feature if it keeps listening to FPS fans
This article discusses how Bungie's new extraction shooter, Marathon, risks losing its unique identity by catering too much to player demands for simpler menu navigation and clearer icons. The author argues that the game's commitment to diegetic storytelling and frictional design, inspired by Soulslike titles, is its strongest selling point and should not be watered down.
The Sunday Papers
This article discusses various aspects of the gaming and media landscape, including the narrative shortcomings of Marvel's Spider-Man 2, the closure of A.V. Club Games and Paste Games, and the challenges of AI in translation. It also touches on the enduring appeal of the shooter Marathon and the debate around vaping regulation.
Sony says it remains committed to Marathon despite disappointing returns on massive Bungie investment
Sony's recent earnings report revealed a significant $765 million impairment loss on its $3.7 billion acquisition of Bungie, indicating the studio's portfolio has not met expectations. Despite disappointing financial returns, Sony remains committed to Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon due to strong player reception and engagement metrics, with plans for additional content and gameplay improvements. Destiny 2's recent update has been indefinitely postponed.
Is Bungie Sony's Worst Ever Acquisition After $765 Million Write-Down?
Sony has reported a $765 million impairment loss on its acquisition of Bungie, significantly devaluing the developer since its $3.6 billion purchase in 2022. This write-down, partly due to the underperformance of games like Marathon and Destiny 2's declining player base, raises questions about whether Bungie is Sony's worst acquisition. The article also touches on Sony's broader struggles with live service games and other studio acquisitions.
Destiny 2 players pick out a grave as Bungie confirms it's got nothing to say and Sony admits it's down $765 million on the studio: "There's no way this game keeps getting DLC"
Sony reported a $765 million impairment loss on its acquisition of Bungie, while the studio admitted to having no significant updates. Destiny 2 is experiencing declining player counts and criticism for its recent 'Edge of Fate' expansion, and the new game Marathon is also struggling to retain players. Bungie's future trajectory under Sony is uncertain, with potential for executive changes and further layoffs amidst broader industry difficulties.
Business and Finance
Sony reported a significant $560 million loss related to its acquisition of Bungie, with the game Marathon experiencing development stalls. Separately, GameStop's CEO faced suspension from eBay for selling items on the platform to fund his eBay purchases.
Sony Is Still Figuring Out the PS6 as PS5 Sales Slow and Bungie Weighs on the Bottom Line
Sony's latest financial report reveals that the company has not yet decided on the launch timing or pricing for the PlayStation 6, citing component costs and supply as major factors. PS5 sales have slowed, contributing to a significant impairment loss related to Bungie's underperformance, particularly with the game Marathon.
PlayStation records $765m impairment loss from Bungie as operating income falls 41.6% in Q4
Sony reported a $765 million impairment loss related to Bungie due to underperforming titles like Destiny 2 and Marathon. The company's Games and Network Services segment saw a 41.6% decline in Q4 operating income, despite overall full-year operating income rising 12%. PlayStation 5 unit sales also decreased year-over-year.
Sony Reveals $766m Bungie Writedown in Latest Financial Results
Sony reported a significant $766 million write-down related to its acquisition of Bungie in its fiscal year 2025 results. Despite the financial loss, Sony plans to continue supporting Bungie's live-service title Marathon, citing strong user engagement metrics. The company anticipates a drop in hardware sales for the upcoming fiscal year but expects an increase in first-party game sales, including upcoming titles like Saros and Marvel's Wolverine.
Sony records a $766 million impairment loss against Bungie for the 2025 financial year, a 1-2 punch of Destiny 2 and Marathon failing to meet its expectations
Sony recorded a significant impairment loss of $766 million against Bungie for the 2025 financial year, primarily due to Destiny 2 and the newly released Marathon failing to meet sales and engagement expectations. This follows a previous impairment loss in Q2 FY2025, bringing the total to over $766 million. Despite this, Sony's overall gaming and network services sales were flat, with operating income increasing by 12%.
Marathon and Destiny developer Bungie underperformed last year, causing a $765 million impairment loss for PlayStation
Sony reported a significant impairment loss of approximately $765 million in its fiscal year 2025/2026, primarily due to the underperformance of Bungie's games, Marathon and Destiny 2. This loss reflects a decrease in the recorded value of Bungie's assets. Despite this financial setback, Sony anticipates overall operating income growth in the next fiscal year, partly due to the absence of such impairment charges.
Sony took a $765 million impairment loss in FY25 on the $3.6 billion Bungie acquisition
Sony reported a $765 million impairment loss in its fiscal year 2025 on the $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie. The makers of Marathon and Destiny 2 continue to be a financial weakness for Sony's Game & Network Services segment.
Sony reports $765 million impairment loss on Marathon and Destiny 2 studio Bungie for the last financial year, after…
Sony reported a significant impairment loss of approximately $765 million against Bungie's assets for the 2025 fiscal year. This loss is attributed to underperformance of titles like Marathon, which did not meet expectations following Bungie's $3.6 billion acquisition in 2022. Despite these financial setbacks, Sony's overall games division sales remained flat, with positive projections for the coming year.
Bungie’s value keeps on dropping in latest Sony financials
Sony reported significant impairment losses of approximately $565 million USD in the last quarter related to its acquisition of Bungie, bringing the total annual loss to around $765 million USD. This financial downturn coincides with declining player counts for Destiny 2 and underperformance of the newly released Marathon, as well as substantial layoffs at Bungie since its acquisition.
Sony Files Second $565 Million Impairment Against Bungie
Sony's Q4 2025 financial report indicates a second impairment against Bungie, reducing its value by approximately $565 million. This reduction, totaling $765 million since the 2022 acquisition, is attributed to Destiny 2's underperformance and Marathon's launch not meeting expectations.
Bungie Was a $765 Million Thorn in Sony's Side in 2025
Sony's fiscal year 2025 financial results reveal a significant $765 million impairment loss attributed to Bungie, impacting PlayStation's operating income. Despite this, Sony's gaming business still saw a 12% profit increase year-on-year. The article suggests that Bungie's acquisition and the development of Marathon have been costly and problematic for Sony.
Sony Reports $765 Million Impairment Loss Due to Underperformance of Marathon Developer Bungie
Sony reported a significant $765 million impairment loss in its last financial year, primarily attributed to the underperformance of Marathon developer Bungie. This financial setback highlights challenges in the studio's recent performance.
Sony Writes Off Another $565 Million Impairment Loss Against Bungie
Sony has recorded another $565 million impairment loss against Bungie, bringing the total write-off to $769 million in the last financial year. This significant loss, representing over 20% of the acquisition cost, impacts the perceived value of Bungie and its ongoing titles like Marathon. Despite this, Sony's gaming division reported a 12% increase in operating income.
