Marathon Has Been Delayed To An Unspecified Date

Developer Bungie has announced that its in-development extraction shooter, Marathon, has been delayed indefinitely.

Announced via a blog post on the game’s website, Bungie explained that feedback provided by playtesters and the general public made it clear that there are various elements within Marathon that require reworking and refinement.

“The Alpha test created an opportunity for us to calibrate and focus the game on what will make it uniquely compelling—survival under pressure, mystery and lore around every corner, raid-like endgame challenges, and Bungie’s genre-defining FPS combat. ”

The post goes on to promise a more direct relationship between the development team and the community in an effort to implement meaningful change. It appears that the next few months will feature additional playtests, serving as opportunities for the studio to receive feedback from those who participate hands-on. Talking specifics, the blog post outlines the key focal points the team will be working on with this additional development time:

• Upping the Survival Game
  • More challenging and engaging AI encounters
  • More rewarding runs, with new types of loot and dynamic events
  • Making combat more tense and strategic
• Doubling down on the Marathon Universe
  • Increased visual fidelity
  • More narrative and environmental storytelling to discover and interact with
  • A darker tone that delivers on the themes of the original trilogy
• Adding more social experiences
  • A better player experience for solo/duos
  • Prox chat, so social stories can come to life

Marathon has been at the centre of several controversies, the most recent of which was accusations of art theft that Bungie itself eventually confirmed. The preview impressions from various outlets also left a sour taste in the mouths of many, with impressions being that the gunplay and movement are tight, but the game lacks a unique selling point that a paid experience needs.

In any event, we will be waiting for a while before we know more, as the developer has said, “You’ll hear from us again later this Fall when we can share the progress we’ve made, alongside the game’s new release date.”

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