Marathon
News, coverage and analysis tracking Marathon across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Call of Duty movie will be set in the Modern Warfare universe
The upcoming Call of Duty movie will be set in the Modern Warfare universe, as confirmed by director Peter Berg. Activision producer Rob Kostich emphasized the importance of authenticity and epic scope for the film, which is slated for a June 30, 2028 release. In other news, Marathon director Joe Ziegler has departed Bungie, passing leadership to Del Chafe III and Julia Nardin amidst ongoing studio layoffs and legal disputes.
Marathon director Joe Ziegler leaves Bungie just four months after launch
Joe Ziegler, the director of Bungie's upcoming game Marathon, has departed the studio after three and a half years. He announced his last day was July 17th and that he is passing the game director role to Del Chafe III and Julia Nardin. This news comes amidst ongoing controversy for Bungie, including recent layoffs affecting hundreds of employees across multiple teams.
A month after mass layoffs at Bungie, Marathon game director Joe Ziegler is leaving the studio
Joe Ziegler, the game director for Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon, has announced his departure from the studio. Del Chafe III will be taking over as Game Director, with Julia Nardin serving as Creative Director. This follows recent mass layoffs at Bungie and precedes an upcoming mid-season update for Marathon, which will introduce its first proper PvE mode.
Evening Reading - July 17, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading recaps various gaming news items, including updates on Battlefield 6, Elden Ring mods, and The Elder Scrolls 6. Bethesda confirmed remasters for Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, a new Fallout project with Obsidian, and that Fallout 5 is in pre-production. Konami has revived Metal Gear social accounts, and the Lies of P Complete Edition is heading to Nintendo Switch 2.
We just awarded $500 to the PC gamer who sent us this wild Crimson Desert video, and next month it could be you
PC Gamer awarded a $500 prize to a player for a notable video submission featuring Crimson Desert. The monthly PC Gamer Clips contest encourages players to submit gameplay videos for a chance to win prizes, with the latest winner showcasing a unique horse-to-wyvern mount swap.
Does anyone know how to drive this thing?
The article critiques the current state of the video game industry, highlighting a perceived lack of direction and a focus on short-term profits over sustainable development. It points to Sony's struggles with live-service games and Microsoft's costly acquisition spree and subsequent layoffs as examples of poor management. The author argues that this trend of layoffs and uncertainty is detrimental to game development and player experience, contrasting it with companies like Capcom and Larian that have maintained stability and achieved success.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 17: Epic Games Summer Sale
The Epic Games Store is hosting its annual Summer Sale, featuring discounts on titles like Death Stranding 2: On The Beach and Resident Evil Requiem. Other storefronts like Steam, Humble Store, and Ubisoft are also offering various deals on PC games, including new releases and popular titles. Additionally, Amazon Luna is providing free games for subscribers.
Bungie talks up Marathon’s Mid-Season 2 update, but players are far more interested in Destiny 2 these days
Bungie is preparing to release a significant update for its extraction shooter Marathon, featuring a new PvE mode and various improvements. However, player interest appears to be heavily focused on Destiny 2, which has seen a substantial surge in its player count, reaching over 167,000 peak players on Steam in June.
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.