Can Marathon’s $40 Price Tag Save It?

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Recently, there have been numerous discussions centered around the cost of Marathon. Some people are questioning whether it should have been a free-to-play game instead. Game Director Joe Ziegler has explained his reasoning, and for longtime fans of Bungie’s IPs or the extraction-shooter genre, this might be acceptable. However, what about those new players who are not familiar with this particular game?

While I’m not an expert on video games, it appears that Marathon might be hard to market compared to other extract-and-shoot titles such as Dark & Darker and The Finals, given their user-friendly approach for newcomers.

READ: 5 Things Marathon Could Learn From Destiny 2

In simpler terms, it’s worth noting that Sony (now Bungie’s new parent company following acquisition) has a track record of terminating games if they don’t align with their standards. The cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer mode and the live-service version of God of War serve as examples where their decisions might not have been perfectly aligned with success, suggesting they may sometimes be taking risks to gauge market demand.

In Marathon’s situation, Sony appears to trust Bungie’s methodology. This is because they have created Destiny, a live-service game that has been active for over ten years and still retains a dedicated player base who are on the hunt for sci-fi rewards. This indicates that there could be potential for a Bungie game with “extraction shooter” in its title.

Will it be another Concord?

Concord, much like Marathon, was a flop for Sony, leaving a lasting mark on their sales history. While it wasn’t a poor example of a hero-shooter genre, its release coincided with a period when gamers had little interest in such games.

READ: $400 Million and 8 Years of Development: What Went Wrong with Concord?

Bungie’s Marathon shows great promise. Many players who tested it in beta had positive feedback. The artistic style of the game is rich and impactful, which could lead to strong buzz at launch. Ideally, it will steer clear of harmful online discussions among gamers and foster a dedicated fanbase. However, there’s always the possibility that things might not go as planned, much like what happened with Concord. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a successful launch.

Will it be another Helldivers 2?

In terms of live-service success, Hell Divers 2 is currently Sony’s biggest hit, and if Marathon manages to generate just a fraction of that excitement, they could truly be onto something special. The appeal of Hell Divers 2 lies in its sheer fun factor when played with friends. Bombarding alien creatures and robots may not have been complex, but it delivered the perfect blend of action for an enjoyable gaming experience with your team.

Experiencing Marathon is reminiscent of that feeling. With its setup of just three players, you can dive in with your friends on a comfortable Saturday evening, ready to gather loot and blast aliens. The main concern is whether Marathon will continue to offer the same enjoyable, rewarding gameplay pattern—avoiding the monotonous, tiresome pitfalls that Destiny 2’s current content occasionally falls into.

READ: Helldivers 2 Devs are Trying to Relist the Game to Other Countries After Sony’s PSN Blunder

From my perspective, these musings are merely conjectures, but I deeply hope Marathon thrives. Given my experience with Destiny 2 spanning over five years, I yearn for a new Bungie intellectual property that transcends the Guardians. In my opinion, there’s something unique about Marathon—if they manage to attract the right fanbase, it could become their most successful game thus far.

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2025-04-21 13:12