Bungie's Future Looks Bright with a Connected Universe Plan

At Sony’s PlayStation Showcase 2023, Bungie surprised fans with the debut trailer for a reimagined version of its long-dormant Marathon series. Although details about the gameplay are scarce, the futuristic setting of Marathon presents an opportunity to link it to Bungie’s wildly popular Destiny 2. While the pairing may seem unlikely, establishing even tangential connections between the two universes could deepen the lore of both franchises. One developer that Bungie could look to for inspiration in linking universes is Remedy Entertainment. Known for its supernatural storylines in games like Alan Wake and Control, Remedy filled Control with Easter eggs referencing Alan Wake, and the AWE DLC officially established the start of Remedy’s connected universe.

Remedy’s Connected Universe Establishes a Model Bungie Could Follow

The potential crossover between the universes of Marathon and Destiny 2 could offer a unique and intriguing narrative choice for Bungie. While the two franchises have vastly different aesthetics, finding ways to connect them indirectly could be financially beneficial for the company and encourage players of each title to try out the other. With Destiny 2's current story arc set to conclude with The Final Shape expansion in 2024, now is the ideal time for Bungie to take a bold step and blend the two sci-fi shooters together. Additionally, Destiny 2 already has pre-established lore that could be utilized to explain the connection between the two worlds.

Destiny’s Past May Hold the Key to a Future Bungie Connected Universe

Expanding on the concept of the Awoken species, Bungie could connect the worlds of Marathon and Destiny 2 by placing Marathon within a previously unknown pocket universe located in Destiny 2. This would not only link the two franchises but also provide an explanation for their vastly different settings. Unlike the Awoken's consciously-shaped home, Marathon's world could reflect a timeline where humanity never met The Traveler and instead expanded into the galaxy on its own. Set in 2850 on the planet Tau Ceti IV, the cyberpunk-inspired Marathon could exist as a dystopian pocket universe. Interestingly, the timelines of the two games align, with many fans speculating that Destiny 2 takes place around 1,000 years in the future, depending on the length of each of its historical Ages.

By incorporating Destiny 2 Easter eggs into Marathon, Bungie could establish a stronger link between the two franchises. This approach could open up new possibilities for both games and potentially lead to the creation of a connected universe that could satisfy gamers for years to come. With the game currently in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, the timing couldn't be better for Bungie to explore this opportunity.