Bungie Commits to Extensive Long-Term Support for Marathon

In an era where numerous live service games face abrupt closures, Bungie has affirmed its dedication to supporting its new title, Marathon, for an extended period, emphasizing a commitment of "many years."

This announcement is particularly reassuring for fans, especially given the recent shutdown of titles like Highguard just months post-launch, despite Marathon's positive initial reception and strong review scores.

Bungie's pledge follows the release of a comprehensive PC Performance Guide on the game's official site. This guide not only details optimal settings for Marathon, which is Bungie's inaugural DirectX 12 title, but also outlines forthcoming enhancements.

The developer stated, "While specific details are still under wraps, we've identified immediate improvements to CPU performance. We also have more significant, long-term CPU optimizations planned. Our strategy is to roll out enhancements proactively as they're ready, rather than holding them back for a single large update, even if this means they might be less conspicuous. We take immense pride in Marathon's visual and gameplay evolution since its Alpha phase and are fully committed to its sustained development. We anticipate continuously refining every facet of the game for many years."

Marathon's journey to release has been protracted and complex, initially revealed in May 2023 as one of nearly a dozen live service projects under Sony's ambitious expansion plan. Many of these projects have since been canceled or, like Concord, terminated. Among Sony's initial live service push, only Helldivers 2, the upcoming Horizon Hunters Gathering, and the in-development Fairgame$ remain active or slated for release.

Nevertheless, Marathon faces the challenge of sustaining player engagement over the long term. Our review awarded the game an 8.5/10, highlighting it as an "addictive extraction shooter featuring the same masterful gunplay that has made Bungie legendary, making it a must-play for fans of the genre and even those adverse to it."

Marathon is currently available across multiple platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.