Marathon Delayed to Fall for Polishing, New Date Coming Soon
▼ Summary
– Bungie has delayed the release of Marathon due to varied playtester feedback and plans to announce a new date in the fall.
– The delay aims to refine key elements like survival mechanics, lore, endgame challenges, and combat based on player input.
– Closed testing will focus on improving encounters, rewards, graphics, tone, solo/duo gameplay, and adding proximity chat despite prior toxicity concerns.
– The extensive list of planned improvements suggests the game is far from polished, raising concerns about its development state.
– A new release date may not arrive until 2026, as Sony’s fiscal 2025 year extends to March 31, 2026.
Bungie has pushed back the launch of its highly anticipated title Marathon, opting to delay the September release date for further refinements based on player feedback. The studio plans to announce a new launch window this fall, though industry speculation suggests the game might not arrive until 2026.
Player reactions during recent alpha testing played a pivotal role in this decision. Bungie acknowledged community concerns, emphasizing their commitment to delivering an experience that meets expectations for depth, challenge, and atmosphere. The extra development time will focus on enhancing core elements like combat mechanics, environmental storytelling, and endgame content while addressing technical and design shortcomings.
Key areas under revision include encounter design, reward systems, and visual polish, with the team also revisiting previously scrapped features like proximity chat—a surprising reversal given earlier concerns about potential toxicity. The studio aims to strike a balance between fostering player interaction and maintaining a positive community environment.
The extended timeline raises questions about the game’s development trajectory, particularly since Bungie hasn’t yet settled on a concrete replacement date. Internal documents from Sony hint at a fiscal 2025 launch, but with that window stretching into early 2026, fans may face a longer wait than anticipated.
Continued closed testing will help shape these improvements, with Bungie promising a progress update later this year alongside the revised schedule. For now, the delay signals the studio’s willingness to prioritize quality over deadlines, though it leaves unanswered questions about the project’s overall readiness.
(Source: PC GAMER)
