Joe Ziegler
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Ex-Marathon and Valorant lead has 3,400 hours in Path of Exile, says it's "the most freeform version" of…
Joe Ziegler, known for his work on Valorant and Marathon, expresses his deep appreciation for Path of Exile, citing over 3,400 hours played and praising its unparalleled buildcrafting freedom. While the author finds comfort in the Diablo series, Ziegler highlights Path of Exile's experimental depth as a key differentiator in the ARPG genre.
'There were a lot of disagreements across the place': Former Marathon director Joe Ziegler on leading Bungie's extraction shooter, playing Path of Exile for 3,437 hours, and why he'll never uninstall Kingdom Hearts
Former Marathon director Joe Ziegler discusses his extensive gaming habits, including thousands of hours in Path of Exile and Destiny 2, and his enduring love for Kingdom Hearts. He also touches on his experiences at Bungie, the challenges of leading the Marathon project, and his appreciation for the social aspects of games like World of Warcraft.
March 2027 Could Be Make-Or-Break For Marathon
Bungie is planning a significant update for its extraction shooter Marathon in March 2027, aiming to evolve the experience beyond its initial PvEvP focus. The studio aims to introduce more approachable entry points and deeper challenges, drawing parallels to its successful turnaround of Destiny 2. This comes after a period of internal challenges for Bungie, including layoffs and project cancellations.
Bungie Had “Five or Six” Projects in the Works Before Sony’s Acquisition – Rumor
A report indicates that Bungie had five or six projects in development before its acquisition by Sony, including Destiny 2 and Marathon. Most of these projects were canceled due to various reasons, leading to significant layoffs at the studio. Bungie is currently focusing on Marathon and has ended support for Destiny 2.
Marathon Still Has a Lot to Prove, Even With Its New PvE Mode
Despite the introduction of a new PvE mode called Vault Breaker, Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon continues to struggle with low player numbers, falling below 7,000 concurrent players on Steam. The new mode offers a roguelike progression system for solo players and teams, but the game's overall player base remains critically low, raising concerns about its future and the studio's investment, especially following the departure of game director Joe Ziegler.
The next major moment for Marathon arrives today with a new update and the debut of its PvE mode, Vault Breaker
Bungie has launched "Vault Breaker," an experimental, time-limited PvE roguelite mode for its game Marathon, available for two weeks starting today. This mode operates separately from the main game and allows players to upgrade their "Sponsored Kit" using Vault Data currency, with the potential to earn rewards for the main game. Bungie is also working on a more integrated PvE mode for Season 3.
Marathon’s game director resigned from Bungie for ‘something new, somewhere else’
Joe Ziegler, game director for Bungie's upcoming game Marathon, has announced his resignation from the company. He expressed gratitude to fans for their support and stated that the mission for Marathon will continue under new leadership, with Del Chafe III and Julia Nardin taking over. Ziegler is moving on to a new opportunity elsewhere.
Marathon’s Limited-Time Vault Breaker Mode Detailed in New Overview Trailer
Bungie has detailed Marathon's new limited-time PvE mode, Vault Breaker, available from July 21st to August 4th. Players will collect Vault Keys, open vaults to find loot and data, and can choose to extract or continue looting. Data collected can be used to upgrade a persistent Sponsored Kit, with the ultimate goal of facing The Compiler.
Bungie’s Future Is Balanced On A Knife Edge – Can They Survive?
Bungie faces significant challenges following the departure of Joe Ziegler and the struggling launch of Marathon, which has seen dwindling player counts. With ongoing layoffs and no announced future projects, the studio's future appears uncertain.
Marathon Game Director Joe Ziegler Leaves Bungie Four Months After Launch
Joe Ziegler has stepped down as the game director for Bungie's Marathon, just four months after its launch. Del Chafe III will assume the role of game director, with assurances that the game's development will continue despite recent studio layoffs.
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.
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’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.