At 1 PM ET today, Bungie is set to launch a lengthy reveal stream for its upcoming hero/extraction shooter, Marathon. This will mark the first official look at gameplay for the highly anticipated title. Until now, fans have only seen a teaser trailer released over a year ago, alongside some concept art and alternate reality games (ARGs). The reveal stream has already been live for 20 hours, showcasing MIDA messages and previews of maps and weapons.
The stakes are incredibly high for Bungie with this launch. Marathon is a critical project for the studio, especially considering its recent struggles. Following a series of layoffs and voluntary departures, Bungie is effectively half the size it was a few years ago. At present, their focus is split between Destiny 2 and Marathon. Momentarily, Destiny 2 is on the verge of entering a new era of content, albeit with a shift to less content than players are used to. The game is transitioning from a model that includes one large expansion, four seasons, a raid, and two dungeons, to a format with just two smaller expansions, four major updates, and one raid and dungeon.
The quality of the new format is still unproven. However, many players are concerned about receiving less content over time without any sign of a sequel in the next five years. Destiny 2 has dominated Bungie’s portfolio for the last decade, and now Marathon must share that spotlight. If Marathon doesn’t launch successfully, it could result in a significant setback for Bungie, potentially jeopardizing its future. Conversely, a successful debut would bolster the studio’s position, especially if Destiny’s content offerings remain diminished.
On the other hand, the stakes are also quite high for Sony. While it’s an exaggeration to claim that Marathon could sink the entire PlayStation brand, it is the most significant live-service game currently on Sony’s docket. Following a series of cancelled projects and an infamous disaster (which many are all too familiar with), only Helldivers 2 has emerged as a major hit, but it has seen a drop in player engagement since its launch in February 2024. Thus, Marathon is positioned as the next big hope for live service titles under the PlayStation umbrella.
Set to be the first new intellectual property from Bungie in a decade, Marathon holds substantial importance for Sony’s future direction. The stakes for this game couldn’t be clearer—it needs to resonate with players to justify the $3.6 billion investment Sony made in acquiring Bungie. If Marathon doesn’t meet expectations, the repercussions will reverberate throughout Sony’s broader strategy of developing multiple successful live-service games. In recent years, that strategy has faced several setbacks, and a failure with Marathon would be another major blow.
However, should Marathon succeed, it could significantly enhance Sony’s position in the gaming market. It would serve as evidence of the effectiveness of their investment in Bungie and would improve the narrative around the company, especially when highlighting their ability to produce hits. This would also help them move past the stigma attached to their last high-profile failure, Concord. Unlike Concord, which didn’t capture audience interest from the outset, the buzz around Marathon has been largely positive.
Fans and industry watchers are eager to see if Bungie can recapture its historical prowess in producing compelling shooters. The anticipation is palpable, with early impressions of the game’s art direction, scoring, and lore generating excitement in the community. This reveal could be momentous for both Bungie and Sony, setting the tone for their future endeavors in the live-service space amid fierce competition from established titles like Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Apex Legends.
In conclusion, the upcoming reveal of Marathon is one of the most crucial moments in recent gaming history for both Bungie and Sony. The industry will be watching closely to see if this new endeavor can spark a resurgence for Bungie and mark a new chapter for Sony’s live-service aspirations.
image source from：https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2025/04/12/the-marathon-livestream-reveal-a-make-or-break-game-for-bungie-and-sony/
