Studio Responds to Alpha Playtest Feedback and Plagiarism Controversy

Marathon delay has officially announced that its upcoming team-based extraction shooter Marathon will not meet its originally scheduled September 23, 2025 launch date. The decision comes after extensive player feedback from closed alpha playtests and a plagiarism controversy that clouded the game’s development. The studio promises to provide an update and new release date later this fall.

Mixed Alpha Feedback Forces Delay

In a development update shared on its official website, Bungie acknowledged the mixed reactions from players who participated in the alpha playtests conducted in May 2025. While many players were excited about the game’s core mechanics and unique atmosphere, others raised concerns about gameplay depth, AI encounters, and the overall survival experience.

“We’ve taken this to heart, and we know we need more time to craft Marathon into the game that truly reflects your passion,” Bungie stated. The studio emphasized that it wants to ensure Marathon delivers a high-stakes, survival-driven extraction experience that stands apart from other shooters in the genre.

Key Changes Coming to Marathon

As development continues, Bungie has outlined several areas of improvement based on player feedback:

• Enhancing the survival elements to increase tension and strategic depth.
• Making AI enemy encounters more dynamic, challenging, and rewarding.
• Expanding the game’s narrative and environmental storytelling with a darker tone reminiscent of the original Marathon trilogy from the 1990s.
• Adding new social features, including proximity chat and deeper player interactions.
• Improving overall visual fidelity to match next-gen expectations on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

“We’re using this time to empower the team to create the intense, high-stakes experience that a title like Marathon is built around,” Bungie added. The studio will continue conducting closed playtests throughout the next few months to fine-tune the gameplay before setting a new launch window.

Plagiarism Controversy Adds to Setbacks

The delay also follows a controversy that erupted in May 2025 when Scottish artist [name not disclosed] accused Bungie of using her artwork without permission in Marathon’s alpha build. The studio admitted that a former staff member had improperly included the artist’s work without proper credit. Bungie publicly apologized, launched a full asset review, and committed to resolving the issue directly with the artist involved.

This incident has sparked broader discussions about intellectual property rights in game development and increased scrutiny on how studios source and use creative assets.

Bungie and Sony’s Live Service Strategy Under Pressure

Marathon is one of several live-service projects tied to Sony’s broader push into the genre. However, this delay adds further challenges to Sony’s live-service ambitions, which have already seen several setbacks. In 2024, Sony shut down developer Firewalk Studios and canceled multiple live-service titles after the shooter Concord failed to attract a sustainable player base.

Despite these challenges, Bungie remains committed to Marathon, describing it as a passion project that will require more time and care to fully realize its potential.

What is Marathon?

Marathon is a reboot of Bungie’s cult-classic first-person shooter series from the 1990s. The new version reimagines the franchise as a team-based extraction shooter where teams of three “Runners” compete against each other and AI enemies to gather loot, survive intense encounters, and uncover hidden lore. Marathon is being developed for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

With the additional development time, Bungie aims to recapture the mystery, danger, and lore-driven storytelling that made the original series beloved by longtime fans, while introducing modern gameplay innovations for today’s competitive gaming landscape.

When Will Marathon Release?

While Bungie has not provided a new release date, the studio confirmed it will share progress updates and reveal the rescheduled launch window sometime in fall 2025.

For more breaking updates on upcoming game releases and industry news, visit our Latest Gaming Updates 2025 section.

Read Bungie’s full update on Bungie Official Update on Marathon.