Article Key Points
Bungie's new game, Marathon, and Destiny 2's Final Shape expansion have been delayed, following the recent layoffs at the company.
Destiny 2 will transition from a seasonal cycle to an episodic cycle following the Final Shape expansion, resulting in changes to its content release system.
These delays could also have an effect on various projects at Bungie, such as a team-based action game and the project referred to as "Matter," potentially leading to notable modifications and a reordering of priorities. However, no official confirmation has been made.
Bungie's highly anticipated game Marathon and Destiny 2's Final Shape expansion have been postponed, according to a report. This news coincides with the company's recent layoffs, resulting in the departure of numerous high-ranking employees.
Destiny 2's Final Shape expansion marks the end of the Light vs. Darkness saga that originated in Destiny 1. Once the game's main storyline concludes, Bungie plans to transition from a seasonal release schedule to an episodic one, altering its current three-month content distribution system. Moreover, the developer has renamed its weekly blog from "This Week at Bungie" to "This Week in Destiny," suggesting a shift in focus towards other projects. Unfortunately, unforeseen issues have arisen, causing the developer to delay the release of two highly anticipated launches, as per the latest report.
As per Bloomberg's sources at Bungie, the release of Destiny 2 The Final Shape expansion has been postponed to June 2024, while the release of Marathon is now scheduled for 2025. It is worth noting that Bungie never confirmed the release window for Marathon initially, suggesting that the game might have been planned for a 2024 launch before this report emerged. Furthermore, in addition to these delays, Bungie has made the decision to lay off several staff members, potentially raising concerns about the developer's future.
The report only mentions two potential project delays, but there are several other projects in development at Bungie that may have been affected. For example, the developer was hiring for a team-based action game inspired by various genres. Additionally, Bungie seems to be working on a project codenamed "Matter," which they trademarked in 2018. A job listing for the Matter project hinted that it would be set in a universe similar to Destiny. Furthermore, recent Microsoft vs. FTC court hearings revealed that Matter could potentially launch in 2025, although this could have changed due to the current situation.
These layoffs and delays at Bungie are consistent with the issues faced by other PlayStation studios. Naughty Dog, another studio, recently experienced layoffs as well. The report on Naughty Dog's layoffs also suggested that The Last of Us multiplayer game has been put on hold, indicating a shift in focus for PlayStation studios and possibly a major strategic change for Sony.
Destiny 2, developed by Bungie, is a captivating online FPS that seamlessly combines elements of single-player and multiplayer gameplay. Since its initial release in 2017, this immersive shooter has garnered a devoted fan base and continues to grow and evolve.
Platform(s): PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
Release Date: August 28, 2017
Developer: Bungie
Publisher: Bungie
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Game Modes: Multiplayer Online, Online Co-Op
Engine: Tiger Engine
ESRB Rating: T for TEEN (Blood, Language, and Violence)
Expansions: Destiny 2: Forsaken, Destiny 2: Shadowkeep, Destiny 2: Beyond Light, Destiny 2: The Witch Queen, Destiny 2: Lightfall
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z netizen, I'm quite disappointed by the news that Destiny 2's Final Shape expansion and Bungie's upcoming game, Marathon, have been delayed. I've been eagerly anticipating the release of both titles, and it's frustrating to hear that I'll have to wait even longer to play them.
However, I understand that delays are sometimes necessary to ensure that a game is released in the best possible state. I'm confident that Bungie will use this extra time to polish the games and make them the best they can be. In the meantime, I'll be keeping an eye out for more information about both titles and I'll be patiently waiting for their eventual release.
