This week, Bungie has been slowly teasing the release of its highly acclaimed successor to the beloved Marathon, an IP that once held a special place for the Destiny creators. Years before Master Chief debuted, it was even considered a prototype for Halo.
Fast forward to 2025, and both Bungie and Sony are fully committed to rebuilding Marathon from the ground up for a new audience while also honoring the longtime fans who have been waiting for something fresh from this classic science-fiction shooter since 1994. With a gameplay reveal expected on April 12, more players are eager to see what Bungie has been cooking with this new venture.
Yet a question remains: Can it be sustainable enough to save Sony from its past live-service missteps?
Firewalk Studios’ Concord was a bold move for Sony at the time, with millions invested into a hero-shooter that aimed to make its mark on an already crowded market. But before it even had a chance to succeed, it stumbled. It lacked a clear identity, had limited post-launch content, and failed to generate strong word-of-mouth support. It was also impacted by a turbulent political climate within the industry. Ultimately, though, its biggest problem was launching when the market was already oversaturated with similar games.
Another major project that Sony shelved was Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Online, which many believed was close to release. Unfortunately, it never saw the light of day. It became a massive time-sink for Naughty Dog, and the studio chose instead to focus on future projects like Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet.
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+ 2With Marathon, it feels like Bungie and Sony are confident they can help usher in a new era of shooters, even in a space dominated by extraction-style gameplay. This might not just be another gamble. More people, especially longtime fans and Destiny 2 players, are excited to see what this reimagined Marathon offers.
It has been two years since the announcement, and Bungie is finally ready to show the world what they have built. But the pressure is higher than ever for it to connect with the right audience. Will it be locked behind a paywall? Does it have a compelling gameplay loop? Is the gunplay fun? We will begin to get answers to these questions once the gameplay and interviews are revealed.
click to enlarge + 2Part of me wants Marathon to succeed and dominate the volatile FPS market. But there is also a pit in my stomach that wonders if it will only shine briefly or, worse, burn out within a month—just like Concord and The Last of Us Online.
I hope Sony lets this game breathe. Let it find its audience naturally and give it the time to grow. That has always been Bungie’s strength with Destiny 2, and it deserves the same chance here.
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