Thanks to a series of surprising revelations, it seems that Bungie’s upcoming PvP extraction shooter, Marathon, is taking a page out of Arrowhead Game Studios’ book rather than learning from the recent missteps of its Sony stablemate, Firewalk Studios.
Despite the high-profile failure of Concord, which launched at $40 and was shut down a mere two weeks later, Marathon is reportedly set to launch with the same premium price tag.
The game is slated for a 2025 release. | Image Credit: PlayStation/YouTubeBut before you start sharpening your pitchforks, it’s worth noting that this decision seems to be inspired by the success of Helldivers 2 rather than a blind repetition of Concord‘s mistakes. Helldivers 2, which also launched at $40 earlier this year, proved to be a hit among players, with its chaotic, co-op gameplay winning over fans despite the premium price point.
The $40 Question: Will Marathon Sink or Swim?
Bungie and Sony might be making a risky gamble with this one. | Image Credit: PlayStation/YouTubeAccording to reports from both The Game Post and Forbes‘ Paul Tassi, sources within Bungie have confirmed that Marathon is indeed targeting a $40 launch price. This decision was reportedly made after the free-to-play shooter The Finals failed to make a significant impact, while Helldivers 2‘s success at the same price point provided a compelling counterargument.
Interestingly, it seems that even the spectacular failure of Concord hasn’t been enough to sway the studio’s thinking on this matter. According to Tassi’s source, the game is “simply too far along to pivot back to F2P restructuring anyway, so it will launch like this, barring anything seismic.”
Of course, the question on everyone’s mind is whether Marathon will be able to justify its premium price tag and avoid the same fate as Firewalk Studios’ hero shooter. And while details on the game are still scarce, there are a few key factors that could work in its favor.
A New Direction for the Game?
Official updates on the game are expected in the coming months. | Image Credit: PlayStation/YouTubeOne of the most significant changes to Marathon‘s development came with the departure of former game director Christopher Barrett, who was fired by Bungie earlier this year amidst allegations of inappropriate behavior. Barrett was replaced by Joseph Ziegler, a former senior game director on Riot Games’ Valorant, and it seems that this change in leadership has brought with it a shift in the game’s direction.
According to Tassi’s source, Ziegler’s influence has pushed the sci-fi PvP extraction shooter towards a class-based system, with each class having its own set of abilities and playstyles. Players can expect to find meaningful gear and guns during their runs, which can be further customized to suit their playstyle.
There are also hints that Ziegler may be planning to introduce himself to the community and clear up some misconceptions about the game in the coming months. With Marathon currently slated for a 2025 release window, there’s still plenty of time for Bungie to win over skeptical players and prove that the game is worth its premium price tag.
Of course, the specter of Concord’s failure still hangs over the project. With Sony reportedly putting pressure on Bungie to deliver a hit after their multi-billion dollar acquisition, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Whether Marathon will sink or swim remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: all eyes will be on the studio to see if it can pull off this daring stunt.
What do you think about Marathon‘s reported $40 price point? Is it a smart move by Bungie, or a recipe for disaster? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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