Sony's Chief Financial Officer Lin Tao has revealed the company's plans to increase its oversight of Bungie as part of a broader strategy to fully integrate the renowned developer into PlayStation Studios. This strategic shift comes as Bungie continues to face challenges with its flagship title Destiny 2 while developing the highly anticipated extraction shooter Marathon.

Despite maintaining Destiny 2 as its core product since 2017, Bungie has witnessed a gradual decline in player engagement following the conclusion of its 'Light and Darkness' narrative arc with The Final Shape expansion in 2024. The recent Edge of Fate expansion failed to meet expectations at launch, raising concerns among the game's dedicated community about its long-term viability.

The studio's development pipeline has faced additional complications with its new project, Marathon. Originally positioned as Bungie's next major franchise, the game has encountered multiple obstacles including development hurdles and a postponed release window, further straining the developer's resources and timeline.

During a recent financial Q&A session, CFO Lin Tao addressed Sony's evolving approach to Bungie's management structure. While initially maintaining Bungie's independence following the acquisition, Sony has begun implementing more direct oversight in response to organizational challenges and workforce reductions. Tao confirmed that complete assimilation into PlayStation Studios remains the ultimate objective.

Regarding Marathon's development status, Tao assured stakeholders that the project remains on track for release within the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2026. While acknowledging potential flexibility in the timeline, she expressed confidence in Bungie's progress with core gameplay refinements and anticipated an official launch announcement during autumn.

Sony's broader live-service initiative has yielded mixed results, with Helldivers 2 emerging as a standout success while other titles like Concord failed to gain traction. Industry sources suggest Haven Interactive's Fairgame$ has also experienced internal delays, mirroring challenges faced by Bungie's Marathon project.

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