We know remarkably little about Marathon, considering its release window begins in a few months, having been revealed almost a year and a half ago. We aren't sure how many more mulligans Bungie is allowed, either, and with the spectre of Concord and The Finals hanging in the air, there isn't much margin for error. Naturally, fans are curious about what the plan is here, and some fresh details have emerged, unofficially, of course.
Forbes journalist Paul Tassi heard from a source within Bungie who is eager to dispel some of the doom and gloom surrounding the game. This source spoke at length, giving us a better idea of what to expect from Bungie's next. Firstly, the reported $40 price point is real and happening. This is apparently due to The Finals failing to set the world on fire as a free-to-play game and because Helldivers 2 became such a hit at the same price. Concord's spectacular implosion has not affected this thinking, and the game is too far along to pivot to free-to-play now, anyway.
Bungie is not expected to showcase Marathon in any major way before Spring 2025, although there might be a video introducing Joe Ziegler, as well as clearing up some misconceptions that have taken root. For example, Marathon is not a traditional hero shooter in the Overwatch vein and is described as being closer to Apex Legends, just with more customization. It remains an extraction shooter at heart, and the gear and guns acquired during a run are meaningful and can be further customized.
According to the source, the "hero" concept was brought to the fore by the now-fired Sam Barret. Issues arose with the team's struggle to achieve his vision, which had echoes of Destiny 2's Dreaming City. There will still be puzzles to solve and secrets to uncover, but they are vastly reduced from what was originally planned. Despite this, the aesthetic and art direction depicted in the reveal trailer remain; in fact, Bungie's doubled down, considering the positive reception amongst fans.
Finally, and less optimistically, Bungie is in a really tough spot, with Sony applying pressure on its multi-billion dollar investment. Sony needs Marathon to be delivered within the stated 2025 window and for it to be a hit, and it seems like failure is not an option. Getting the game out, let alone at the quality level needed (or the subsequent post-launch content required), will be a Herculean task. Morale is relatively low amongst the game's 300-strong team, with some voluntarily departing in the studio's current state. Others want to get out and talk about the game, to counter the "dead" Bungie narrative, and to push back on being labelled "the next Concord".