Joseph Cross, the art director of Bungie's Marathon, has left the company voluntarily amid controversy over a plagiarism scandal, just months before the game's scheduled release in March 2026. His departure follows a major overhaul of the game and a change in its tagline, with Bungie aiming to recover public trust and ensure the game's success.
Joseph Cross, the art director for Bungie's upcoming game Marathon, has left the project just months before its scheduled release in March 2026, amid ongoing development and controversy over its unique visual style. Cross expressed pride in his work and support for the team, with the game set to launch on multiple platforms at $40.
Bungie announced that their team-based extraction FPS game Marathon will launch in March 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series, and PC at $39.99, with plans for ongoing free updates including new maps, game modes, and customization options, along with a detailed 23-minute documentary highlighting new features and the game's dark sci-fi world.
Destiny 2's new Renegades expansion features heavy Star Wars-inspired visuals and elements, creating a unique licensed crossover that is not a direct Star Wars game but draws heavily on its aesthetics and themes, aiming to attract new players and reinvigorate interest in the game.
Sony's expectations for Destiny 2 post-Bungie acquisition have not been met, leading to an impairment loss, but the company remains committed to launching its upcoming game Marathon within the fiscal year and continues to see growth in its live service segment and PS5 lifecycle.
Sony has expressed disappointment with Destiny 2's sales and user engagement, leading to a $204 million impairment on Bungie's intangible assets, reflecting the game's underperformance since Sony's acquisition of Bungie in 2022. Despite some successes, the company is under pressure to improve Bungie's performance and has taken a more hands-on approach, especially as Bungie faces challenges with upcoming projects like Marathon.
Sony's recent earnings reveal that Destiny 2 has not met expectations following Sony's $3.6 billion acquisition of Bungie, leading to impairment losses and a downward revision of business projections due to changes in the competitive environment and declining player numbers.
Sony's financial report highlights Helldivers 2's strong cross-platform success, especially on Xbox, while Destiny 2 underperforms, leading Sony to revise its expectations and record a $204 million impairment related to Bungie, which remains operationally independent but with increasing integration.
Sony has reported that Bungie has underperformed financially since its acquisition, with Destiny 2's declining player base and engagement leading to a significant impairment charge, raising concerns about Bungie's future and the upcoming release of Marathon.
Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter Marathon conducted a closed technical test from October 22-29 with around 80,000 players across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam, focusing on gameplay feel and player retention. Sony confirmed the participation numbers and reiterated the game's planned launch within the fiscal year ending March 2026, with Bungie preparing a detailed update soon.
Sony confirms that Bungie’s game Marathon is still in active development and aims to launch by March 2026, with recent extensive playtests analyzing gameplay and retention. Despite delays and controversies, Sony remains committed to the scheduled release within the fiscal year ending in March 2026.
Destiny 2's player base has hit record lows amid silence from Bungie regarding a promised roadmap, leading fans to perceive the game as leaderless and uncertain about its future, despite upcoming content like the Renegades expansion.
Destiny 2 players are confused about the game's future due to the absence of a promised roadmap and ongoing issues with the core gameplay structure, particularly The Portal, which has received negative feedback and technical problems. Bungie plans to continue with two expansions and major updates in the Year of Prophecy but needs to address player dissatisfaction and system flaws to revitalize the game and improve communication.
Bungie is extending the Marathon Closed Technical Test by two days to conduct backend stress testing, with server resets and new loot rewards for participants, aiming to evaluate game performance under heavy load.
Arc Raiders' successful open beta has significantly impacted Bungie's upcoming game Marathon, as it has attracted millions of players and become a top seller on Steam, complicating Marathon's release and potential success due to its earlier launch and overlapping genre.