ChorizoPicozo
Member
hey @grok did marathon got delayed and why?
### Regarding the Video Game *Marathon* by Bungie:
Yes, *Marathon* has been delayed indefinitely from its original release date of September 23, 2025. Bungie announced this decision on June 17, 2025, stating that they need additional time to refine the game based on player feedback and to address several issues.
1. **Negative Feedback from Alpha Playtest**: The closed alpha test, held from April 23 to May 4, 2025, received mixed to negative feedback from players. Testers criticized the game for a lack of tension, an underwhelming solo experience, and a gameplay loop that felt bland or unengaging. Many players felt the game didn't stand out in the crowded extraction shooter genre, with some comparing it unfavorably to titles like *Escape from Tarkov* or *Hunt: Showdown*. This feedback prompted Bungie to reassess and make significant improvements to core gameplay elements.
2. **Need for Gameplay Improvements**: Bungie outlined specific areas they plan to address during the delay, including:
- Enhancing survival mechanics to make combat more tense and strategic.
- Adding more challenging and engaging AI encounters.
- Introducing new types of loot and dynamic events to make runs more rewarding.
- Improving the solo and duo player experience.
- Adding proximity chat to enhance social interactions.
- Increasing visual fidelity and incorporating a darker tone to align with the original *Marathon* trilogy's themes.
- Expanding narrative and environmental storytelling to deepen the game's lore.
3. **Plagiarism Controversy**: *Marathon* faced significant backlash due to allegations of stolen art assets. An artist, Antireal, accused Bungie of using their work without permission, which Bungie admitted was an "unauthorized use" of art. While not explicitly cited as the primary reason for the delay, this controversy likely contributed to the decision, as it damaged the game's reputation and required Bungie to review and replace affected assets. Delaying the release allows time to address this issue and mitigate negative publicity.
4. **Internal Development Challenges**: Reports indicate internal struggles at Bungie, including low team morale, leadership changes, and pressure from Sony, their parent company, to meet live-service game expectations. The failure of Sony's *Concord* (
) another live-service title, has put additional scrutiny on *Marathon*, with Sony's Studio Business Group CEO Hermen Hulst emphasizing the need to avoid similar mistakes. These internal and external pressures likely influenced the decision to delay the game to ensure a stronger launch.Now explain to me like im retarded how these "vocal minority", "insignificant" porcentage of people who take issue with Bungie's mistakes can affect the potential success for the wider and "real" PVP players?
### How Can a Small Group Affect the Big Group?
Even though the vocal minority is small, their complaints can mess things up for the wider PVP audience. Here's how, broken down simply:
1. **They Spread Bad Vibes Online**
- The vocal minority posts negative stuff on X, Reddit, or gaming forums, like "Bungie stole art!" or "*Marathon* sucks!" These posts get seen by tons of people, including PVP players who haven't tried the game yet.
- Example: Imagine a few kids at school yelling that a new ice cream shop is gross. Even if they're wrong, other kids might not try the ice cream because they heard bad things. Same with *Marathon*—PVP players might skip it because of the noise.
2. **They Scare Away New Players**
- *Marathon* needs a lot of players to be fun (it's an online game where you fight others). If the vocal minority's complaints make PVP players think the game is bad or shady, fewer people will join at launch.
- Example: If a party has only a few people, it's lame. If fewer PVP players join *Marathon* because of bad buzz, matches will feel empty, and the game won't be as fun for the "real" players.
3. **They Hurt Bungie's Reputation**
- The art theft scandal makes Bungie look untrustworthy. The vocal minority keeps bringing it up, which can make PVP players think, "If Bungie steals art, will they mess up the game too?" This makes players pick other games instead.
- It's like if a toy company got caught lying—kids might not want their toys, even if they look cool. PVP players might choose *Delta Force* or *Arc Raiders* over *Marathon* because of the drama.
4. **Streamers and Influencers Listen to Them**
- Big gaming streamers or YouTubers (who PVP players watch) might see the vocal minority's complaints and decide not to play or promote *Marathon*. If streamers say the game is bad, their fans (thousands of PVP players) might skip it.
- Example: If a popular kid says a new game is dumb, their friends won't play it. Streamers are like those popular kids—they influence tons of PVP players.
5. **They Make the Game Seem Risky**
- *Marathon* costs $40, unlike many free shooter games. The vocal minority's complaints about the alpha test (boring gameplay, weak solo mode) make PVP players worry the game isn't worth the money. They might wait or not buy it at all.
- It's like if a few people say a new movie is terrible—you might not spend money on a ticket. PVP players might avoid *Marathon* to save cash for a "safer" game.
6. **They Could Cause a "Flop"**
- If the vocal minority's noise keeps too many PVP players away, *Marathon* might launch with a small player base. Online PVP games need lots of players to work well (for matchmaking, full matches, and updates). If the game flops, Bungie might stop supporting it, leaving "real" PVP players with a dead game.
- Example: Sony's *Concord* flopped in 2024 because not enough people played it, and it shut down fast. The vocal minority could push *Marathon* toward the same fate.
### Why Does This Matter for Success?
For *Marathon* to succeed with PVP players, it needs:
- **Lots of players**: To fill matches and make the game feel alive.
- **Good reputation**: So players trust it's worth their time and money.
- **Hype**: To get PVP players excited to jump in.
The vocal minority's complaints can ruin these by spreading negativity, shrinking the player base, and making the game seem like a risky bet. Even if they're only 1% of players, their loud voices can make 10-20% of PVP players hesitate, which is enough to hurt an online game.
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