Summary
Bungie is bringing back one of its oldest IPs with its upcomingMarathonrevival—but things aren’t going well. In fact, one ofBungie’s rumored moves is reminiscent of the ill-fatedConcord, though it’s not too late for this direction to be effective.
Despite the excitement that came with its announcement,Marathonhas been plagued with delaysand internal division. The classicMarathontrilogy (the last game of which was released in 1996) laid the foundations for story-based first-person shooters, including Bungie’s ownHaloseries. However, this latest entry in the long-dormant franchise is going for a live-service model, combining class-based elements withEscape from Tarkov-style extraction shooter gameplay. Live-service competition is incredibly fierce, and the changes being made toMarathonhave already made some fans wary.
Bungie’s Marathon Could Still Avoid Concord’s Fate, Despite Its Rumored $40 Price Tag
According to The Game Post, supposed insider sources have stated thatMarathonwill cost $40 at launch. This is very much in the realm of rumor, but it lines up with other parts of Sony’s live service push—with games likeConcordandHelldivers 2double-dipping in a way free-to-play titles don’t. Though this is far below the $70 price tag much of the industry is pushing, it’sMarathon’s live-service elementsthat make this allegation sting.
Fortunately for Bungie, while these claims tieMarathoncloser tothe calamitous fallout ofConcord, it hasn’t flown too close to the sun just yet. The upcoming revival of one of Bungie’s oldest IPs has more than a few tricks up its sleeve, from the prestige of its history to Bungie’s track record for breaking new ground. Still, it’s hard to deny thatConcordhas been something of a turning point for the industry—one that proves the unwillingness of players to engage in oversaturated live-service releases. IfMarathondoesn’t offer fans a good deal, no gimmick or ‘Bungie twist’ will save it.
Marathon Has IP Backing
Marathonmay be departing from its source material, but that source material still holds a good deal of weight. If the rumored price tag holds to be true, fans may still be drawn by the promise of a return to something they hold dear. However, IP attachment can only go so far, something demonstrated by the fallout ofSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.Marathonwill need aggressive marketing, something thatConcordalso lacked, to properly utilize this advantage. The game will also need to pay respect to its predecessors, all while advancing the series' plot in a clever and justified way.
Bungie’s Known For Fresh Ideas, And That’s Just What The Genre Needs
Bungie has a myriad of issuesit needs to sort out, from ongoing accusations of a sexist and crunch-addled culture to some big layoffs. The asset Bungie does have, though, is a track record for breaking new ground. TheDestinyseries has done a great deal for the medium, andDestiny 2managed to carve out a decent fiefdom for itself in the live-service arena. However, perhaps Bungie’s most impressive accomplishment has beenHalo, a franchise which has shaped gaming to an incredible degree.
Considering the immense oversaturation facing the live-service market, fresh ideas are absolutely pivotal for any upcoming competitor. IfMarathonwants to survive, it’ll need to bring something new to the table, and in enough of a quantity to justify its supposed price tag. Games likeConcord,Lawbreakers, andAnthemall suffered from a lack of a hook as well as a lack of content, factors that accelerated their trip to the ash heap of history.Marathonneeds to not only be mindful of this, but pull out extra stops to justify its alleged price, if it turns out to ring true.Helldivers 2made the $40 asking fee in its favor, and ifMarathonoffers enough depth, its price of admission could be beneficial rather than harmful.
