What Bungie Will Add To ‘Marathon' After Its Announced Delay
Marathon
Marathon isn't cancelled. I do not believe Marathon is going to be cancelled. Even if yesterday, Bungie announced that Marathon would no longer hit its September 23, 2025 release date, with no new date given, that's not what's happening. The game is too far along and too important for both Bungie and Sony to just throw in the towel now.
As such, Bungie has now written a list of what is being worked on during this Marathon delay period, and I thought it was a good time to go through and analyze each point. Let's get going:
More challenging and engaging AI encounters – This is something Bungie already touched on during the Alpha itself, testing out more intense enemy AI, and they reiterated that in the last livestream. A robust, more pervasive AI presence is something that could differentiate it from competitors and at least fulfill some PvE wishes from sections of its potential playerbase. We also have to remember more AI factions are coming, like the Pfhor, and they may be here by the new release date, perhaps.
More rewarding runs, with new types of loot and dynamic events – We were always getting 'new types of loot' with the Alpha holding a lot back, but I'm wondering if this means things like extra high-end, special perk gear, or even something like new equipment slots. And more rewarding gear would perhaps help you to take more away even with shorter runs. More dynamic events could be things like weather or enemy drops or more things to engage with, like supply drops, all welcome.
Making combat more tense and strategic – I very much take this as leaning into the harder core aspects of the extraction genre, moving away from feeling like a slower Apex Legends and more into 'tactical' engagements. Bungie has touched on this already, talking about moving the gap between super-geared players and lower-geared players together so it's less of an auto-stomp. Still, I do not take this as an effort to make the game more casual, but the opposite.
Marathon
FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™
Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase
Pinpoint By Linkedin
Guess The Category
Queens By Linkedin
Crown Each Region
Crossclimb By Linkedin
Unlock A Trivia Ladder
Increased visual fidelity – I mean, this one was obvious. The Alpha did not look great because it was unfinished, and a lot of stuff, mainly exteriors and player models, needed tons of work. I will be curious to see where it ends up.
More narrative and environmental storytelling to discover and interact with – There is currently very little of this in the game at all. Most narrative is contained to some vendor conversations but on the maps themselves? Adding lore there would be nice. That said, it's difficult to make dedicated PvP players care much about lore, and it's likely not enough to drag PvE players in to experience it, is my guess.
A darker tone that delivers on the themes of the original trilogy – I'm a little confused about this one as I do think the lore we do have is dark and has themes of the original trilogy. The main complaint about Marathon not feeling like 'Marathon' is the fact that it looks and plays completely different and is an entirely different genre of game, which I can't imagine changing. And you're not going to make it look like that image three paragraphs above this, certainly.
Marathon
A better player experience for solos/duos – Possibly the biggest complaint about Marathon to date has been that there is no dedicated solos playlist, meaning you have to load in by yourself against teams of threes. However, the way this is phrased does not at all confirm that's what's coming. Rather, Bungie did already talk about making it feel better to be solo or duo in a game. Maybe they will make solos or duos playlists, but that is not what this is necessarily saying.
Prox chat, so social stories can come to life – Everyone was pretty stunned when they realized that Bungie was making an extraction shooter without proximity chat, which is an obvious staple of the franchise. I am willing to bet the issue here was some sort of thing with Sony, given how its other games don't have the feature either, and I don't think it's really a technical issue. Still, it's allegedly coming. I remain skeptical this is as big a draw for Marathon as people make out, given how it will function in its non-Tarkov combat loop, but yes, obviously, the game should have the option, at least.
I'm trying to be a bit more positive here than normal, but I'm not changing my ultimate conclusion that all this won't be enough. We'll see.
Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram.
Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Imperfect Women's Elisabeth Moss Calls Her Upcoming Apple TV+ Series ‘A Fantastic Palate-Cleanser After Handmaid's' — Everything We Know So Far
Apple TV+'s Imperfect Women doesn't have a release date yet, but that didn't stop us from asking star and executive producer Elisabeth Moss for an update on the new series during a recent interview. 'It's going great,' Moss said of production on the forthcoming limited series based on Araminta Hall's 2020 novel. 'It's pretty early, but it's a project that's been near and dear to my heart for five years now.' She recalled optioning the book years ago through her production company, Love & Squalor. 'Through various boring industry maneuvers, two strikes and a pandemic — and my own schedule, this day job of Handmaid's that I had — it's taken a second to get here,' the Emmy winner added. 'But I'm very glad that it's arrived in this package that it's arrived in, because this cast is insane. It's crazy.' More from TVLine The Handmaid's Tale's Elisabeth Moss Takes Us Inside Directing the Series Finale: Ending Show Without That Big Character Return 'Didn't Feel Right' Did Taylor Swift Have a Secret Handmaid's Tale Cameo?! Elisabeth Moss Gives Us the Scoop (Exclusive) The Handmaid's Tale's Elisabeth Moss, Max Minghella Unpack the 'Divisive' June/Nick Ending to Episode 6 Moss, of course, referred to her work on Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale, where she was star, executive producer and director. The dystopian drama ran six seasons and recently aired its series finale, which she helmed. And the Imperfect Women co-stars that have her so excited include Scandal's Kerry Washington, who also serves as an EP; House of Cards' Kate Mara; Billions' Corey Stoll and For All Mankind's Joel Kinnaman. 'I just feel like it came together the way that it was supposed to,' Moss said. 'And it's a fantastic palate-cleanser after Handmaid's. It's super different. It's fun, it's sexy. It's obviously a drama, but it's got this thriller element to it.' She added: 'It came around at the right time.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kerry Washington (@kerrywashington) Scroll down to find out everything we know so far about . We'll make sure to update this post as soon as there's new intel, so come back often! In addition to Moss, Washington, Mara, Stoll and Kinnaman, Imperfect Women's cast includes Rome Flynn (Godfather of Harlem), Sherri Saum (The Fosters), Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty), Wilson Bethel (All Rise), Keith Carradine (Madam Secretary) and Jackson Kelly (The Pitt). The series is based on Araminta Hall's 2020 novel, published by Picador. According to the show's official logline, 'After a murder shatters the lives of three friends, their decades-long bond is tested when an investigation reveals shocking truths.' Imperfect Women does not yet have a release date. We'll be sure to update this post with that information as soon as it does. Imperfect Women will stream exclusively on Apple TV+. Apple TV+ has not yet released a trailer for Imperfect Women, but we'll add the video to this post as soon as one is released. Best of TVLine 20+ Age-Defying Parent-Child Castings From Blue Bloods, ER, Ginny & Georgia, Golden Girls, Supernatural and More Young Sheldon Easter Eggs: Every Nod to The Big Bang Theory (and Every Future Reveal) Across 7 Seasons Weirdest TV Crossovers: Always Sunny Meets Abbott, Family Guy vs. Simpsons, Nine-Nine Recruits New Girl and More
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tyler Perry Slams $260M Sexual Assault Suit By ‘The Oval' Actor As A 'Scam'
A former longtime regular on Tyler Perry's White House drama The Oval is accusing the Madea star of sexual assault, sexual harassment and retaliation in a $260 million lawsuit — claims that Perry vehemently denies. 'Using his influence, Mr. Perry provided vulnerable men with acting positions, roles, show contracts, cars, and money,' a lawyer for Derek Dixon says of Perry's M.O. to their client and others in the 10-claim complaint filed June 13 in Los Angeles Superior Court. 'Once the object of his desire was hooked, Tyler Perry would then put them in fear of losing it all unless they engaged in Mr. Perry's perverted desire for sexual gratification. Mr. Perry would easily 'kill off' a character in a show of an actor who failed to indulge Perry's sexual fantasies.' More from Deadline Juror Tossed Out Of Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial For Perceived 'Lying'; Judge Admonishes Defense For Claiming Racial Bias Judge Rejects Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Latest Motion For Mistrial In Sex-Trafficking Case — Update Kanye West's Very Short Visit To Sean "Diddy" Combs' Trial Proves More Photo-Op Than Support For Pal Invoking the names of 'Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, R. Kelly, Sean 'P-Diddy' Combs, Kevin Spacey, Roger Ailes, and many others in the industry,' Dixon's action details how allegedly 'on multiple occasions, Mr. Perry sexually assaulted Mr. Dixon, including one instance where he forcibly pulled off Mr. Dixon's clothing, groped his buttocks, and attempted to force himself on Dixon.' In response, Perry's representatives call BS on Dixon and his accusations. 'This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,' said Matthew Boyd, attorney for the mogul and his TPS Production Services, LLC. 'But Tyler will not be shaken down, and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.' Such claims of harassment by Dixon are very specific and widespread at the same time, it should be noted. For instance, at one point Dixon says Perry promised the actor that he had 'greenlit' the 'pilot that Perry knew Mr. Dixon had desperately wanted to produce.' The Oval vet says that even with a call from one of Perry's lawyers affirming that the pilot was moving ahead, the promise turned out to be empty. In a format reminiscent of the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni lawsuits, text messages — some more suggestive than others — pepper the 46-page filing from L.A. attorney Jonathan J. Delshad. Included is at least one from an October 2020 trip the two and others took to the Bahamas, where Dixon claims Perry got loaded and assaulted him, again. The filing also notes that Perry supposedly repeatedly threatened 'that if Dixon ignored Perry or failed to engage with the sexual innuendos, Dixon's character would 'die' in the next season.' It goes on to add: 'Indeed, Dixon's character 'Dale' was shot four times in the chest at the end of his first season on The Oval and Perry always held this over Mr. Dixon's head, implying that 'Dale' would survive if Dixon kept Perry 'happy.'' According to Dixon, after he complained about Perry's alleged misconduct and 'Defendants did not make any investigation into the complaint and did not take any steps to prevent further harassment from occurring,' he 'had to quit his job working on the last season of The Oval.' Dixon and his attorneys claim that decision cost him around $400,000 in lost wages. 'Dixon did not want to be sexually harassed or be placed in danger of a sexual assault again,' the filing states as his reason for leaving the show and giving up the money. The Oval debuted on October 23, 2019, on BET, and saw its sixth season kick off on January 25 this year. A Ruthless spinoff premiered on BET+ on March 19, 2020. Best of Deadline 'The Buccaneers' Season 2 Soundtrack: From Griff To Sabrina Carpenter 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘How to Train Your Dragon' Leads Box Office With $37 Million; ‘Elio' Sinks to Pixar-Worst $21 Million Opening
A live-action remake triumphed decisively over original animation at the box office this weekend as Universal/DreamWorks' 'How to Train Your Dragon' held on to the No. 1 spot with a $37 million second weekend, easily clearing Disney/Pixar's 'Elio,' which has fallen to the worst opening weekend in Pixar history with just $21 million domestic and $35 million worldwide. Not only that, 'Elio' is opening in third place on the charts, falling behind the $30 million opening of Sony's R-rated horror legacyquel '28 Years Later.' A low start for Pixar's latest original film was expected given the performance of its last non-sequel, 'Elemental,' which started poorly yet stands as the highest grossing original film of the past five years with $154 million domestic and $496 million worldwide. But there had been hopes that 'Elio' could at least open closer to the $29.6 million opening of 'Elemental' despite the competition from 'How to Train Your Dragon.' The bright spot is that there's still a chance that 'Elio' could have as long legs as 'Elemental' given its very high audience scores, which include an A on CinemaScore, 4.5/5 on PostTrak, and Rotten Tomatoes scores of 85% critics and 91% audience. 'Elio' will also be the only animated film in theaters until Paramount's 'The Smurfs' arrives in mid-July so that gives it an even more fertile environment to draw in families, including perhaps some who opted to see 'Dragon' this weekend. Overseas, the film still has releases to come in China, Japan and Spain, with more kids getting out of school internationally in the coming weeks. But as it stands, 'Elio' would need to have legs as long as 'Elemental' just to reach $100 million in North America, let alone the $154 million of that film. It's a testament to how challenging it has been to drum up buzz for original family titles and how it takes overwhelming post-release word-of-mouth just to score a decent theatrical number. And while Disney and Pixar have gotten the most press on this front for their multiple mixed attempts at original releases — including Disney's flops 'Strange World' and 'Wish' — they aren't the only ones that have had to fight to make originality work. Illumination's sole original title of the last five years, 'Migration,' needed a month to turn its $17 million Christmas weekend opening into a $127.6 million domestic run and $300 million worldwide. Paramount's live-action/animated original hybrid 'IF' opened last year to $33.7 million for a $111 million domestic and $190 million global run. For 'Elio,' which carries a much larger $150 million budget, that's probably the best it can hope for. As for the rest of the charts, 'How to Train Your Dragon' added $53.5 million overseas along with its $37 million domestic total this weekend, bringing it to a 10-day total of $160.4 million domestic and $358 million worldwide. In second is '28 Years Later' with a $30 million domestic and $60 million worldwide opening, giving it the best opening ever for an R-rated zombie film. The legacyquel to the 2002 classic '28 Days Later' sees the director-writer team of Danny Boyle and Alex Garland reunite for what they hope to be a trilogy set in a dystopian future where the deadly Rage Virus has caused the collapsed U.K. to be quarantined from the rest of the world. With a $60 million budget, '28 Years Later' will be a summer success for Sony Pictures, and we will see in the theatrical run ahead — as well as this winter with the film's follow-up, 'The Bone Temple' — whether there's enough audience appetite for a third film to be greenlit. Critics have praised '28 Years Later' with an 89% Rotten Tomatoes score, while audience reception is somewhat less enthusiastic with a B on CinemaScore and a 65% RT score. Disney's 'Lilo & Stitch' is in fourth with $9.7 million, bringing its total to $386.7 million domestic and $910 million worldwide. In fifth is Paramount's 'Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning,' which has now reached $540 million worldwide after earning $6.5 million in its fifth weekend for a total of $178 million domestic. That's enough to pass the domestic run of 'Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning,' which made $172 million in 2023. Finally, A24's 'Materialists' sits just outside the top 5 with a $5.8 million second weekend, giving the $20 million romance drama from Celine Song a $23.9 million 10-day total. The post 'How to Train Your Dragon' Leads Box Office With $37 Million; 'Elio' Sinks to Pixar-Worst $21 Million Opening appeared first on TheWrap.
