Bungie has officially postponed the launch of Marathon indefinitely. This highly anticipated extraction shooter comes from the renowned studio behind legendary FPS franchises like Halo and Destiny. However, unlike Bungie's previous successes, Marathon has faced significant challenges during its development cycle, including public controversies and mixed reception from early testers.

The game recently became embroiled in an art plagiarism scandal when it was discovered that Marathon featured unauthorized artwork, allegedly added by a former employee. This controversy further dampened enthusiasm for the title, which was already receiving lukewarm responses following its alpha test. The absence of Marathon from the latest PlayStation State of Play event signaled potential trouble, and Bungie has now confirmed the indefinite delay.

Originally scheduled for release on September 23, 2025, Marathon now has no confirmed launch window. While Bungie assures fans the project isn't canceled, the studio refuses to commit to a new date. Players might see the game in 2025, but a 2026 release appears equally possible. Bungie promises an update this fall that will include revised release plans.

Development Changes Planned for Marathon

In its official statement, Bungie outlined major improvements coming during the extended development period:

• Enhanced Survival Elements
• Deeper Universe Building
• Improved Social Features

The inclusion of proximity chat directly addresses one of the extraction shooter community's biggest complaints from the alpha test. Marathon's initial lack of this feature drew significant criticism from genre fans.

Bungie faces an uphill battle to overcome Marathon's negative perception following the problematic alpha test. While the studio boasts an impressive legacy, parent company Sony's recent struggles with live-service games - including canceling The Last of Us multiplayer and shuttering Concord shortly after launch - raise questions about Marathon's future. The extended development time may help Bungie deliver a more polished product, but only time will tell if these changes can win over skeptical players.