Marathon
News, coverage and analysis tracking Marathon across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Halo lead mocks rumors that the studio is chasing Arc Raiders and Marathon with a PvE extraction shooter spin-off
Halo community director Brian Jarrard humorously addressed rumors of a PvE extraction shooter spin-off, mocking the speculation with a joke about a pottery game. While not a direct denial, his response comes amid ongoing speculation about the future of the Halo franchise and the studio's development priorities. The article also touches on the popularity of extraction shooters and the potential for a Halo-themed game in that genre.
After a slow start, Last Flag developer says you can't become the next big hit just by ticking boxes:…
Night Street Games, co-founded by Dan and Mac Reynolds, released the multiplayer shooter Last Flag, which, despite positive reviews and a low price, is struggling to find an audience. The studio emphasizes the importance of creative vision over chasing trends, stating that a game's soul comes from the team's inspiration. They believe new and exciting experiences will still attract players, even within popular genres.
"It's a slippery slope to try and build a game for an audience": Marathon, Arc Raiders, and Last Flag devs dig into the trend-bucking evolution of multiplayer shooters
Developers from Bungie, Embark Studios, and Night Street Games discuss the evolving landscape of multiplayer shooters, particularly the rise of extraction shooters like Arc Raiders and Marathon. They emphasize the importance of creative vision over trend-chasing and the challenges of launching live service games in a competitive market.
Former PlayStation head isn't sure how Sony can recoup those big budgets without first-party games coming to PC
Former PlayStation Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida expressed uncertainty about Sony's strategy for recouping massive game development budgets without releasing first-party titles on PC. He noted that while releasing games on PC after a delay helped recoup investments during the PlayStation 5 generation, he hasn't seen proof of a strategy change for the current generation.
New Gran Turismo 7 update is the live service success Sony keeps ignoring
Gran Turismo 7 is presented as a successful live service model for Sony, despite not being officially branded as such. The game continues to receive frequent updates with new cars and events, contributing to significant sales figures on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, and generating revenue through microtransactions. This success is contrasted with Sony's broader struggles in launching its own live service titles, suggesting a need for the company to learn from its existing successful games rather than forcing the model onto other franchises.
Despite the negativity, Marathon was one of last month's best-selling games, though there's a catch
Despite significant negativity, Bungie's Marathon was a top seller by revenue in the US during March and has maintained a notable player count on Steam. However, the game's high development cost and Sony's acquisition of Bungie suggest it may not yet be the commercial success anticipated, especially considering its player count has dropped since launch.
As Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 further proves Jennifer English is a GOTY magician, one of her co-stars is "happy to…
Voice actress Jennifer English has been involved in multiple BAFTA Games Award winners, including Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3, and the upcoming Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Her colleague Rich Keeble expressed his willingness to work with her on future projects, citing her apparent knack for award-winning games.
PC Gamer magazine's new issue is on sale now: Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred
PC Gamer magazine's latest issue features an exclusive preview of Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred, including hands-on gameplay and developer interviews. The issue also includes previews for Directive 8020 and Crimson Desert, reviews for several other titles, and a feature on the best PC RPGs.
Dead by Daylight studio Behaviour Interactive confirms redundancies
Behaviour Interactive, the studio behind Dead by Daylight, has confirmed a new round of redundancies due to a decline in demand for mobile and casual external development projects. The company stated that these decisions are difficult and expressed gratitude for the contributions of the affected employees. The article also reports on a significant increase in US consumer spending on video games in March 2026, driven by strong hardware sales, particularly for the Nintendo Switch 2.
US: Nintendo Switch 2 was No.1 hardware in March 2026
The Nintendo Switch 2 was the best-selling hardware in the United States for March 2026, followed by the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. MLB: The Show 26 was the best-selling game of the month. Nintendo's digital sales figures were not included in the report.
Morning Patches
Several games have received recent updates, including Brave Escape's Major Update 1.7.0 and Frosthaven: Into the Abyss. Marathon also saw update 1.0.6.1. The article also briefly mentions unofficial patches, mods, and an update for Crimson Desert.
Nintendo Switch 2 sales beat Sony's PS5 thanks to Pokémon Pokopia
The Nintendo Switch 2 reclaimed the top spot in US console sales for March 2026, driven by the release of Pokémon Pokopia. This marks a significant turnaround after the PlayStation 5 outsold the Switch 2 in the preceding months. Despite earlier concerns about Western sales momentum, the Switch 2's year-to-date performance remains strong, with hardware spending seeing a substantial year-over-year increase.
45+ PS5, PS4 Games to Buy in PS Store's Big Games Big Deals Sale
The PlayStation Store is currently hosting its Big Games Big Deals sale, featuring thousands of discounted PS5 and PS4 titles until May 6, 2026. The article highlights a curated selection of recommended games, many of which are at their lowest-ever prices.
Mar 2026 USA Sales: Pokémon-Powered Switch 2 Finally Beats 5-Year-Old PS5
In March 2026, the Nintendo Switch surpassed the PlayStation 5 in US sales, marking a shift after the latter's five-year dominance. Despite a year-over-year increase, the PlayStation 5 saw its sales dip before a price increase on April 2nd. Sony-published titles MLB The Show 26 and Marathon performed exceptionally well, topping software charts and contributing to a 12% overall industry spend increase.
US Gaming Sales Data for March 2026 Shows Beasties Can't Beat Baseball
Circana's March 2026 US gaming sales data reveals MLB The Show 26 as the top-selling game for the month, surpassing Resident Evil Requiem. Despite strong performances from other titles like WWE 2K26 and Marathon, baseball and wrestling games dominated the charts. The Nintendo Switch led hardware sales, with the PlayStation 5 in second place, while the Xbox Series X|S showed declining performance.
Best-selling games in the U.S. for March 2026 – Pokemon Pokopia lands in the top 5
Circana has released the top-selling video games in the U.S. for March 2026, with MLB The Show 26 leading the list. Pokemon Pokopia debuted at number 5, despite Nintendo not reporting digital sales for the game-key card title. Monster Hunter Stories 3 also made its debut on the chart at number 7.
March 2026 Was A Huge Month For Console Sales In The US
US gaming hardware sales in March 2026 surged by 69% year-over-year to $500 million, primarily driven by the new Nintendo Switch model. The PlayStation 5 also saw a 3% increase in sales. The Nintendo Switch was the best-selling console for both units and dollars in March and year-to-date.
Marathon Changes Announced
Bungie has announced changes to its extraction shooter Marathon, doubling the inventory capacity for Depleted Patch Kits and Depleted Shield Charges. These adjustments aim to reduce the game's punishing difficulty for new players.
These New Releases Gave Game Spending A Much-Needed Boost In March
US video game spending reached $5.3 billion in March, a 12% increase year-over-year, driven by new releases like Crimson Desert, MLB The Show 26, and Pokemon Pokopia. Hardware spending also saw a significant 69% jump, with the Nintendo Switch 2 leading sales, followed by the PlayStation 5.
Marathon Update 1.0.6.1 patch notes address UI and item economy
Marathon received update 1.0.6.1 on April 21, 2026, which includes adjustments to the user interface and the item economy. The patch notes detail the specific changes implemented in this latest update.