Marathon has only been out for a few months, so it’s really hard to tell if it has what it takes to maintain a years-long following like Destiny 2, but Bungie’s fate relies on that being the outcome. Bungie has been dealing with a tumultuous few months since Marathon launched, as many Destiny 2 fans aren’t switching over to the extraction shooter. Even before Marathon officially launched, the game was being blamed for the downfall of Destiny 2, and Bungie recently putting an end to post-launch support has only made that belief stronger.
That frustration and anger about Destiny 2‘s end is completely justified, but a lot of that anger is misplaced. Marathon shouldn’t be outright blamed for Destiny 2 being pushed into the dark. Marathon and Destiny 2 could have absolutely thrived side by side, but because of mismanagement from both Bungie and Sony, the two never even really got the chance to coexist peacefully. Bungie has now found itself in a position where it only has Marathon to rely on, and it isn’t looking promising.
If Marathon Can’t Meet Sony’s Expectations, Bungie May Not Be Able to Bounce Back From This Low Point
Marathon is far from a bad game. Beyond the stigma from vocal Destiny 2 fans, another reason that the extraction shooter hasn’t gained the same reach as its predecessor is because it’s a much more niche experience. Extraction shooters may be growing in popularity because of games like ARC Raiders‘ success, but that doesn’t mean every title in the genre sees the same player numbers. Now that Bungie is experimenting with a Marathon PvE mode, the studio feels desperate to finally win over some of the Destiny 2 crowd who aren’t interested in a full-blown extraction shooter.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Guess the games from the emojis.
Easy (120s)Medium (90s)Hard (60s)
Sony Chose Bungie to Help Move Its Live Service Plans Along, and Destiny 2 Could Have Been a Great Help
Despite several major Sony live service games being canceled, Concord flopping and being shut down after only two weeks, and lukewarm reception to the upcoming Horizon Hunters Gathering, the company is still insisting on pushing this goal. Marathon has been one of the few games that is part of Sony’s live service agenda to cross the finish line and stay afloat with a consistent player base. It isn’t pulling in Destiny 2 numbers, though, and that’s a big problem.
It’s hard to say, but it’s very possible that either Sony or Bungie could have ended Destiny 2 support as a final effort to push fans into playing the extraction shooter. If that really was the plan, then it backfired horribly. Fans have been hosting successful Destiny 2 server slams and starting online petitions to try and send a message to Sony and Bungie that many of them have no interest in saying goodbye to the beloved FPS.
Destiny 2 could have been used to help kickstart the live service era that Sony has been desperately wanting. For Sony to be so fixated on bringing forth a bunch of live service titles, it’s baffling that Marathon took priority over Destiny 2 when the two could have been used to corner different markets and expand Sony’s live service reach.
Also, the fact that the recent Bungie layoffs came after the announcement of Destiny 2 support coming to an end further illustrates what a bad position the studio has found itself in. Marathon is Bungie’s only hope right now, and there is a big possibility that Destiny 2 fans won’t budge and let the extraction shooter take its place.
Many Destiny 2 Fans See Playing Marathon as Betrayal, and It’s Hurting Bungie’s Chances of Getting Out of This Rut Alive
There have been situations where streamers have outright quit playing Marathon because of the backlash they receive from Destiny 2 fans via comments and chat messages. Angry messages calling Marathon a “dead game” or claiming streamers are betraying Destiny 2 have kept some from enjoying broadcasting their time with the extraction shooter. This isn’t fair to the streamers or fans in general, because Marathon has a lot to offer once the Destiny 2 drama is set aside.
Sony and Bungie have made a lot of mistakes since joining forces, but Marathon deserves a chance to have its moment in the spotlight. The main question, though, is whether the companies will actually allow that to happen. Sony’s live service plans are getting in its own way, especially when the company insists on premium pricing.
Marathon Going Free-to-Play Might Be the Only Thing That Can Save It Now
There are many reasons why Sony should make Marathon free. One of the main reasons is because it opens the door even wider to gamers who aren’t concerned with the outcome of Destiny 2. ARC Raiders might be able to get away with its $40 price tag, but Sony needs to finally accept that Marathon isn’t a strong enough competitor right now to justify the same cost. There is a very real possibility that Marathon could hit those same heights one day, but it has a significant learning curve compared to ARC Raiders that is likely deterring a lot of people from spending the money to check out a game that they may not even click with.
Destiny 2 started off as a paid product, but it eventually went the free-to-play route and used DLC as a way to monetize new content. Marathon could use a similar structure, but only time will tell if Sony and Bungie allow that to happen.
Whatever Bungie and Sony decide to do next when it comes to the future of Marathon is dire. As of right now, it looks like Bungie has found itself in a hole that seems impossible to get out of, which is a shame. Bungie harbors a lot of fantastic and talented devs, and Marathon‘s gameplay and lore is a reflection of that talent. Marathon‘s chances of being a game that harbors as strong of a community as Destiny 2 aren’t over yet, but the time for Bungie and Sony to find a solid fix is running out.
- Released
-
March 5, 2026
- ESRB
-
Teen / Animated Blood, Language, Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
