Summary
Sony’s latest State of Play event came and went with no mention of Bungie’sMarathon, which does not bode well for the upcoming extraction shooter.Marathonis the next game from award-winning studio Bungie, best known for theHaloandDestinyfranchises. It’s a sci-fi extraction shooter with an eye-popping art style, but the game’s art style has actually landed it in some hot water.
It was discovered that a former Bungie employee seemingly plagiarized some ofMarathon’s art. This discovery led to an apology from Bungie and the announcement that the team would be combing through the game to identify and remove any other potentially plagiarized assets. TheMarathonart plagiarism controversyhas soured public perception of the game, something that wasn’t helped by the lukewarm reception to its alpha tests.
Between the plagiarism controversy andMarathon’s lackluster alpha tests, Bungie’s new extraction shooter has a serious uphill battle ahead of it. There were reports that Sony scrapped its near-future marketing plans forMarathon, and while that has not been officially confirmed, the game’s absence at the latest State of Play event is telling. Despite the fact thatMarathon’s release date is set for September 23, the game was a no-show at the State of the Play. While it could mean nothing, it could also show a lack of confidence inMarathonto turn things around between now and its release date.
Marathon Was Nowhere to Be Seen at the State of Play
Sony has not had great luck with its live-service efforts.Helldivers 2was a hit, butConcordflopped so badly that the game was shut down and delisted almost right away.Marathonis Sony’s next live-service attempt, but it is having trouble getting off the ground. Fans have been calling forMarathon’s release dateto be pushed back and for the game to switch to a free-to-play model, but it’s unclear if that will happen.
Marathon is made by Sony-owned Bungie, but it’s also set for release on PC and Xbox Series X. Those playing on PC and Xbox will not need a PSN account.
Marathon’s complete absence at the State of Play suggests that a release date delay could be in the cards. If the game fails to find an audience and is shut down likeConcord, it would be devastating for Sony, especially since itspent $3.6 billion acquiring Bungiein the first place. Time will tell what happens withMarathonin the long run, but right now, it’s not looking great for the upcoming shooter.
