Today, developer Bungie announced it will delay its upcoming PS5 first-party game Marathon. The first-person shooter was originally set to release on September 23.
PS5 first-party game Marathon is delayed
Bungie announced the delay in a recent development update for Marathon. Although a new release date was not shared today, the company did say we will hear from them again this fall and the studio will announce the new date then.
“The Alpha test created an opportunity for us to calibrate and focus the game on what will make it uniquely compelling — survival under pressure, mystery and lore around every corner, raid-like endgame challenges, and Bungie’s genre-defining FPS combat,” reads the announcement by Bungie.
“We’re using this time to empower the team to create the intense, high-stakes experience that a title like Marathon is built around,” it continues. “This means deepening the relationship between the developers and the game’s most important voices: our players.”
Bungie did confirm that it will still hold closed testing for Marathon to test some new features based on community feedback. Those who participated in the Alpha will be able to partake in the closed tests.
Arguably the most notable addition to Marathon is proximity chat. As it is a staple in many extraction shooters, it seemed like an odd feature to leave out. It is also one of the more requested features that players interested in the upcoming game are vocal about. Other “immediate focus areas” include more challenging AI encounters, more rewarding runs, better visuals, more environmental storytelling, and a better experience for solo and duo play.
Marathon has been in a bit of trouble recently, as Bungie admitted that it had stolen art for its game. Sony is reportedly not planning to do any paid marketing for the game. Bungie also recently appointed Julia Nardin as the new Creative Director of the project. It was unclear if this was due to trouble with the game.
When or if Marathon sees the light of day, it will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.