New Leaks Shed Light on Bungie’s Marathon

Bungie’s upcoming game Marathon has generated significant buzz, primarily due to the scarcity of official information and the prevalence of leaks and reports surrounding the project. Despite fan interest and curiosity, Bungie has remained tight-lipped, which has left much of what we know about the game to surface through unofficial channels. One of the most notable leaks came from an IGN report, which stated that Marathon had shifted towards “hero” characters, similar to Valorant, under the direction of Joe Ziegler. This revelation worried many fans, but recent leaks provide a more nuanced understanding of what the game might offer, suggesting that there’s more to Marathon than just a typical hero shooter.

Among the sources providing insight into Marathon is Twitter leaker @oopsleaks, who has shared detailed information about the game. Initially, this may not have seemed significant, but after reviewing the leaks and hearing corroboration of some details, it’s becoming clear that there may be some truth to these claims. While specifics are still murky, the following points offer a glimpse into what fans might expect from Marathon based on the leaks.

The first noteworthy detail concerns a shift in leadership on the Marathon team. Joe Ziegler, the former director of Valorant, reportedly replaced Chris Barrett as the lead on the project over a year ago. This detail aligns with Barrett’s recent departure from Bungie, although the timing may have gone unnoticed by many. Ziegler’s involvement initially sparked concern, especially given his association with hero shooters, but further details suggest the game’s direction may not be as straightforward as a Valorant clone.

Another critical point of interest relates to the group of content creators involved in Marathon’s playtesting. Contrary to expectations, the creators testing the game aren’t from the hero shooter scene, with backgrounds in games like Overwatch or Valorant. Instead, they hail from more hardcore, tactical games such as Escape from Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown. This suggests that Marathon may be leaning away from the hero shooter formula and more towards an extraction-style gameplay experience, similar to those titles. While this doesn’t mean the game will be a direct clone of Tarkov or Hunt, it does point to a different style of play that may appeal to fans of those games.

One of the biggest concerns from fans following the leaks is the supposed implementation of “heroes” in the game. However, according to the latest information, the term “heroes” might be a bit misleading. Rather than fixed hero characters, Marathon will feature four “runner” presets, each customizable to offer different playstyles. This approach has been compared to The Finals, where players can adjust their characters’ abilities and attributes while maintaining distinct classes. Additionally, weapons in Marathon are expected to be highly customizable, allowing players to tailor their loadouts rather than relying on predetermined hero abilities.

Given the growing trend of free-to-play (F2P) games, one of the looming questions surrounding Marathon is how Bungie plans to monetize the game. While it’s not confirmed that Marathon will be F2P, the report hints that this could be the case, especially in light of the challenges faced by other Bungie projects, such as the ill-fated Concord. The class-based customization system in Marathon is speculated to be a potential solution for monetization, allowing players to visually customize their characters while avoiding pay-to-win microtransactions. This strategy would align with concerns raised in past reports, which indicated that monetization was a key issue Bungie needed to address for Marathon.

The leaks also shed light on how Marathon will handle loot and progression, two crucial elements in any extraction-style game. Rather than featuring an overwhelming number of loot types like Tarkov, Marathon will reportedly offer a more streamlined experience, more akin to Hunt: Showdown. The game will feature large, non-procedurally generated maps, though there has been some experimentation with dynamically changing elements within these maps. Additionally, Marathon is expected to feature seasonal progression similar to Destiny 2’s Artifact system, where players can unlock bonuses as they progress through the season.

One of the more surprising claims in the leaks is the suggestion that Marathon may be Bungie’s main project, possibly even surpassing Destiny 2 in importance. While this is a bold statement, it’s not entirely clear whether Marathon currently has more resources or personnel dedicated to it than Destiny. However, what seems certain is that the game is unlikely to be canceled, despite Sony’s reported struggles with live service games. The leaks suggest that Marathon is still on track, though whether it will meet a 2025 release date remains uncertain.

Perhaps one of the most frustrating aspects of the situation for fans is Bungie’s continued silence on Marathon. Despite widespread speculation and the circulation of leaks, Bungie has offered little clarification beyond confirming that Marathon is an extraction-based game. This silence has allowed rumors to grow unchecked, particularly the idea that the game will be a hero shooter. According to the leaks, Bungie may be preparing to start sharing official details soon, but in the meantime, a “controlled leak” could emerge to help manage fan expectations.

The overarching message from these leaks is that Marathon may not be the game many initially feared. While concerns over a hero shooter format persist, it appears the game will incorporate a more flexible, class-based system that allows for customization, particularly with weapons. This middle ground could satisfy players who enjoy character-based gameplay without sacrificing the freedom to tailor their playstyle. Additionally, the game’s reported focus on monetization through cosmetic customization, rather than gameplay-affecting microtransactions, suggests that Bungie is considering how to balance profitability with fairness.

Ultimately, Bungie’s decision to keep quiet about Marathon has led to rampant speculation, and while the leaks offer some reassurance, it would be wise for the studio to start providing concrete details. Until then, the community will continue to debate what Marathon truly is, and what it might become.