Bungie Delays ‘Marathon’ Release Indefinitely, Fans Left Wondering

SEATTLE, Washington — Bungie has announced that the release of its upcoming first-person shooter, ‘Marathon,’ has been delayed from its initial September 23 launch date, with no new date provided. The studio’s decision comes as a response to player feedback received during the alpha playtest.

In a statement shared on social media, Bungie acknowledged the passionate feedback from players, stating, ‘Through every comment and real-time conversation on social media and Discord, your voice has been strong and clear.’ They emphasized the need for more time to deliver a game that truly reflects what fans desire.

The delay follows reports of low team morale, declining marketing support from Sony, and unspecified controversies surrounding the project. Bungie has not directly addressed these issues in their announcement.

To enhance the game, Bungie plans to focus on several key areas: improving the survival mechanics by increasing challenge levels; enriching the Marathon universe with deeper narrative and environmental storytelling; and enhancing social experiences, including the addition of proximity chat.

Bungie added, ‘Over the next few months, we’ll continue closed testing including participants from the Alpha to deploy gameplay updates and test new features.’ The studio assured fans that they would provide further updates later this fall, including details on their progress and a new release date.

‘Marathon’ is being developed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Windows PC. As fans await further information, the delay raises questions about the game’s future and Bungie’s commitment to delivering a product that meets community expectations.