Bungie Delays Marathon Season 3 and Shifts Focus from Seasonal Updates
- Marathon Season 3 has been delayed, with the full PvE mode now set for December 8.
- A smaller update will launch on October 6, resetting progression and introducing a new Rewards Pass.
- Bungie will move away from strict seasonal schedules to increase development flexibility.
Bungie has announced that the highly anticipated Season 3 of Marathon, along with the full PvE mode, will be delayed. The studio’s next significant update is now scheduled for December 8, 2023, instead of its original launch date of September 22.
In a blog post, Bungie expressed gratitude for player patience and explained the shift in plans, stating, “We know many players were looking forward to it… We are adjusting our plans to ensure the update meets your expectations.”
The December Symbiosis update promises several new features, including a new Runner shell, the permanent PvE mode, a social area for weapon testing, enhanced onboarding processes for new players, a revamped Perimeter zone, and a new experimental team deathmatch mode.
Before the major update, players can anticipate a smaller patch on October 6 that will reset the game’s progression and economy. This update will also introduce a new Rewards Pass and quality-of-life enhancements, alongside the return of the Vault Breaker PvE mode for a limited time.
Bungie’s plan involves moving away from a rigid seasonal structure. The studio stated, “We’re also moving away from a strict seasonal schedule. Instead of tying major updates to fixed seasonal deadlines, we’re giving the team more flexibility to build, test, and improve features before they are released.”
In light of feedback since the launch of Marathon earlier this year, Bungie acknowledged the need for more depth and variety in gameplay, emphasizing the importance of evolving both content and delivery methods.
Challenges like retaining players and attracting new ones have persisted since the game’s release. Compounding these issues were significant layoffs at Bungie, resulting in at least 290 job cuts. The upcoming Symbiosis update is seen as a crucial opportunity for the studio to revitalize player engagement.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
