Highlights

  • 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 switch from a seasonal cycle to an episodic cycle after the Final Shape expansion, altering its content release system.
  • The delays may also impact other projects at Bungie, including a team-based action game and the codenamed project "Matter," potentially causing significant changes and shifting priorities. However, this has not been confirmed.

According to a report, Bungie’s new game, Marathon, and Destiny 2’s Final Shape expansion have been delayed. This bit of news comes at a time when Bungie has simultaneously laid off several staff members, which has vacated many high-level positions.

Destiny 2 The Final Shape is the last expansion the game will receive, which will aim to conclude the Light vs. Darkness saga that began in Destiny 1. After closing the curtain on the game’s main story, Bungie will switch from a seasonal cycle to an episodic cycle for Destiny 2, which will change its current three-month content release system. The developer also recently changed the name of its weekly blog from “This Week at Bungie” to “This Week in Destiny,” indicating that it is now focusing on other projects. However, the latest report indicates that some unforeseen issues have forced the developer to delay two of its biggest upcoming launches.

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As reported by Bloomberg, the publication’s sources at Bungie revealed that Destiny 2 The Final Shape expansion has been delayed to June 2024, and Marathon will now be released in 2025. Interestingly, Marathon’s release window was never confirmed by Bungie in the first place, which indicates that the game could’ve been slated for a 2024 release before this report surfaced. In addition to this, Bungie has also laid off several staff members, which could be one of the reasons behind the delays, painting a potentially worrying picture regarding the developer’s future.

marathon bungie

While the report only mentions the possibility of two project delays, there are multiple other projects in development at Bungie that could've also been affected. For instance, the developer was recently hiring for a team-based action game inspired by several genres. Another project Bungie is seemingly working on is codenamed “Matter,” which is a name it trademarked in 2018. A job listing for the Matter project also suggested that it would be set in a universe similar to Destiny. Furthermore, the recent Microsoft vs. FTC court hearings also revealed that Matter could launch in 2025, which could’ve also changed owing to the current situation.

These layoffs and delays at Bungie are in line with the recent issues faced by other PlayStation studios as well. One of these studios is Naughty Dog, which was also hit with layoffs recently. The report of Naughty Dog’s layoffs also suggested that The Last of Us multiplayer game has also been put on hold for now, suggesting an overall shift in focus for PlayStation studios, and possibly a major strategic change for Sony.