Marathon’s Uphill Battle: Can Bungie Win Destiny Fans Over?

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Summary

  • Marathon’s live service model poses an obstacle for Destiny players due to time demands and seasonal resets.
  • Bungie aims to balance player engagement without overwhelming time commitments.
  • Marathon’s approach, including seasonal updates and inventory wipes, may not appeal to all Destiny fans.

In their initial attempt at the extraction shooter genre, Bungie’s groundbreaking game Marathon, carries a heavy burden of expectation from both longtime Bungie enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Entering a competitive market where a few top titles reign supreme, Bungie faces an uphill battle to ensure the success of this new project. Overcoming these challenges, as history has shown, is something that the versatile studio can handle with ease in due time.

Despite the numerous discussions ongoing currently, one question that stands out is who exactly Marathon is aimed at. Many gamers find themselves strapped for time and are unable to dedicate themselves fully to a new live service game, an issue Bungie is well aware of, given the criticism Destiny 2 has faced for its high time demands. For Destiny enthusiasts considering giving Marathon a go, this time constraint may prove challenging, leading to a difficult decision.

Marathon’s Live Service Aims Might Make It Unappealing to Destiny Players

Players who have experienced Destiny understand the significant amount of time required to stay current with the game. Bungie has structured this game, along with others in its category like Destiny 2, to encourage frequent returns, whether weekly or daily, to meet seasonal milestones and avoid falling behind. Over time, Bungie has made efforts to decrease the time commitment, such as by lowering power level progression requirements, but it remains known for consuming substantial player time.

In a parallel with Destiny 2, Marathon marks the second live-service game from Bungie. As an extraction shooter, it centers around acquiring top-tier loot, which may require significant time investment in pursuit of the most potent gear. Given that many live services have demonstrated players’ willingness to consistently invest their time for a satisfying experience, Marathon aims to cultivate a vibrant community to ensure Bungie’s vision comes to life.

There’s been more debate recently about how many live services can coexist, and this is particularly clear among fans of Destiny. Given that Destiny requires significant time investment, fans of this series might find it challenging to fit Marathon into their schedules as well (assuming they would even enjoy Marathon, which isn’t a given). However, since Bungie’s current players are already familiar with the studio, they could be a natural audience to target. If Marathon launches in less than perfect condition, these players might be more understanding than newcomers.

However, for Marathon to allow room for other activities in players’ weeks, it should not intend to monopolize their time completely. While not all aspects of its live service have been disclosed, it is expected to feature seasons with a story that evolves on a seasonal basis. Given the example of Destiny, the dedication needed to progress through the seasonal content may require significant effort.

Considering this point, it’s possible that Marathon might not aim to attract Destiny players due to its practice of resetting player inventories at the beginning of each season. The penchant for hoarding weapons among Destiny players, even if they’re obsolete in the current game environment, could be a significant deterrent for them to explore Bungie’s latest offering.

Marathon, being somewhat contentious due to a few factors, must strike a delicate balance – keeping players engaged consistently without overdoing it and potentially exhausting them. Given the developer’s extensive background in the live service sector, which even earned Sony a $3.6bn acquisition of Bungie in 2022, if any studio can master this equilibrium and cater to those seeking a blend of experiences, then it could very well be Bungie who does it.

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2025-04-18 16:34