Remember Marathon? It's the next big project from Destiny developer Bungie, and it seems we're on the cusp of getting a deeper look into this eagerly anticipated game. Marathon is a PvP-focused extraction shooter set on the mysterious planet of Tau Ceti IV. Players take on the roles of Runners, cybernetic mercenaries designed to withstand the planet’s harsh conditions, as they explore the remnants of a lost colony on Tau Ceti's surface.
It's been a while since we last heard about Marathon. Back in October, Bungie shared a comprehensive development update video that delved into the game's mechanics but highlighted how early the project still was. At that time, player character models were still "coming together," and enemy models were in an "early state."
Fast forward half a year, and it appears Bungie is gearing up to unveil more of what they've been working on. A recent tweet from the official Marathon account showcased a cryptic image alongside distorted signal noise. Fans have already spotted ASCII art reminiscent of footage from the debut Marathon trailer. Given Bungie's reputation for intricate teasers, hidden clues, and Easter eggs, there's likely much more to uncover, and enthusiasts are diving in to decipher the message.
pic.twitter.com/6NBgIdRVK2
— Marathon (@MarathonTheGame) April 4, 2025
Marathon was first unveiled in May 2023 as a reboot of the classic Bungie franchise, embracing themes of "mysteries, eeriness, and psychological creepiness." However, Bungie has faced its share of challenges in recent years. The company made headlines with the layoff of 220 staff members in July 2024, representing 17% of its workforce, a decision that drew criticism from industry peers. This followed another round of 100 layoffs at Bungie less than a year prior, during which staff described the studio's atmosphere as "soul-crushing" to IGN.
Adding to the turmoil, a report surfaced weeks after the 220 job cuts, alleging that former Marathon director Chris Barrett was dismissed following an internal misconduct investigation. Barrett later filed a lawsuit against Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie, seeking over $200 million in damages.
These developments occur as Sony reevaluates its strategy concerning live-service games. Sony president Hiroki Totoki announced in November 2023 that the company would focus on launching only six of the twelve planned live service games by March 2026, marking a strategic shift that included the cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer game.
While Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 achieved remarkable success, selling 12 million copies in just 12 weeks and becoming the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game ever, Sony's other live service efforts have faced significant hurdles. Notably, Sony's Concord experienced one of the most significant failures in PlayStation history, surviving only a few weeks due to extremely low player engagement before being permanently discontinued along with its developer.
Moreover, earlier this year, Sony reportedly canceled two unannounced live service games: one a God of War title developed by Bluepoint, and the other by Days Gone developer Bend.
