Marathon Just Fumbled a Golden Opportunity It May Not Get Again

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Despite concerns about declining player numbers and disappointing sales for Marathon, it’s important to remember that a dedicated fanbase still enjoys the game. Many of these players are waiting for more exciting cosmetic items in the in-game store as a way to continue supporting the developers at Bungie. While the upcoming Arachne skin for the Assassin Shell looks promising, most of the available outfits so far have been relatively simple color variations.

Although the current, streamlined look of Marathon skins helps keep the game visually clear and showcases its beautiful art style, games like Overwatch demonstrate that developers can offer more creative cosmetic options without sacrificing readability. Marathon could, and likely should, release more attractive skins for its Runners and weapons, especially since players are willing to spend money on them. A collaboration with Saros would be a great way to introduce unique and appealing designs.

Similar to Marathon, Saros is being developed by PlayStation Studios. So far, PlayStation Studios’ involvement in gaming has been limited to cosmetic items – weapon charms – for Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, and Helldivers 2.

Saros’ Launch Would Have Been the Perfect Time For a Marathon Collab

Housemarque’s new game, Saros, is receiving excellent reviews, building on the success of Returnal. While it’s a bit more forgiving than its predecessor thanks to features like second chances and permanent upgrades, it still offers a good challenge. One of Saros‘ biggest strengths is its stunning visual design, particularly its eclipse-themed imagery, and its dynamic environments. It’s surprising that Bungie hasn’t acknowledged the launch of such a visually impressive sci-fi game, as a collaboration between the two would be a natural fit.

It’s possible the initial release was something small, like a simple weapon charm – perhaps using Arjun’s medallion. However, a collaboration featuring the ‘Saros’ theme could have unlocked more substantial ‘Marathon’ content, effectively achieving two goals at once. This could have included ‘Saros’-themed skins for every Runner Shell, featuring sun imagery and a bright orange color scheme that differs from the current Traxus skins. These skins could have been offered as a large bundle, similar to crossover packs in Overwatch, or sold separately, letting players choose only the Shell skins they’d actually use.

I was really hoping we’d get some cool skins inspired by the old Marathon games. I mean, they already did some awesome armor that reminded me of Arjun’s stuff, and it got me thinking about what they could do with the weapons. Even if they kept the weapon skins relatively simple, they could have gotten really creative – like fiery designs with sun symbols. But honestly, I was dreaming of full-on weapons from Saros! Imagine running around with the crossbow or chakram from Marathon – that would be epic. It feels like Bungie missed a perfect chance to celebrate the game’s history, especially with Saros being so iconic. Maybe they’ll surprise us in the next few weeks, but it kinda feels like the moment has passed.

A Saros x Marathon Collab Would Only Be the Tip of the Iceberg

While Saros and Marathon share similar themes of death and rebirth, making them a natural pairing for crossovers, there are many other possibilities. Death Stranding 2 and Helldivers 2, with their science fiction settings, could offer more than just cosmetic items – imagine Death Stranding gear for Marathon’s Runners! Like Blizzard did with the Overwatch and Diablo collaboration to promote the Diablo 4 expansion, Bungie could introduce skins from its own Destiny 2 universe. Even games still in development, such as Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic, could contribute unique cosmetic options. With players worried about Marathon’s numbers and long-term support, it would be a shame if the game didn’t fully explore its potential with exciting cosmetic collaborations.

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2026-05-01 23:34