Marathon's full gameplay will be revealed on April 12. To get fans excited, Bungie is slowly teasing the weapons players can expect, showcasing a small glimpse of what seems to be a returning WSTE-M5.
The WSTE-M5 Combat Shotgun is up there with Doom's Super Shotgun or Gears of War's Gnasher as one of the most satisfying shotties ever in gaming. It's a powerful dual-barrel close-combat wrecking machine that makes you feel like an unstoppable force that's too OP to be taken down.
It first appeared in Marathon 2 and quickly became a fan favorite within the community. The M5 was popular due to its punch and slick, easily identifiable aesthetic.
The shotgun would even find its way into Destiny 2. During the Bungie 30th Anniversary content drop, the developers introduced the Wastelander M5 shotgun, a clear nod to the original WSTE-M5.
Marathon's return needs to hit the right notes amid a tumultuous period for the company. Sony's acquisition hasn't saved Bungie from severe layoffs, and Destiny 2 has suffered tremendously. The devs lost all the good faith they had built following the well-received Final Shape expansion. The content drops feel sluggish, and players are sticking around on the promise of Codename: Frontiers being a fresh start for the looter-shooter.
click to enlargeMarathon will be a more PvP-focused experience. While it's not set as a direct competitor to Destiny 2, it's clear players only have so much time to juggle different live-service games.
Joe Ziegler is the game director. He previously served as a game director for Riot Games on Valorant. Having him at the helm could help bring a fresh perspective to Bungie and could be precisely what a seemingly directionless project like Marathon needed.
We'll have to wait and see what Bungie is cooking up when they officially reveal gameplay for Marathon this April 12. The game is expected to be released this same year, but potential delays are always possible, especially with a project that has had as many issues as this one.