Is Marathon Poised to Change the Live Service Gaming Landscape?
Sony’s quest to elevate its live service gaming catalog with Bungie, its recent acquisition, has fueled speculation about Marathon becoming the next-gen gaming sensation for PlayStation devotees. Marathon’s proposition as the “ultimate live service” game is a tantalizing prospect, yet it hasn’t stopped some gaming enthusiasts from expressing their reservations. The game, curiously, seems to draw inspiration from the wildly successful Escape from Tarkov.
Unveiled at the latest PlayStation Showcase, Marathon is geared up to be an adrenaline-pumping, three-player extraction shooter with noticeable parallels to Escape from Tarkov. Insider Gaming reports that the game will allow solo or duo entries, ensuring that the thrill of the challenge remains, as you’ll still contend against trios of players.
Bungie’s Vision for Marathon: A Seamless, Immersive Gaming Universe
Bungie’s ambition for Marathon as the “ultimate live service” game is increasingly apparent. This is evident in the persistent focus on creating an experience with negligible load times. One insider confided to Insider Gaming that the aim is to achieve an ultra-smooth transition with single-digit load times from “Readying Up” to being fully immersed in a match. Marathon’s gameplay speed also seems geared towards quick-fire engagement, with the gameplay loop reportedly unfolding as follows:
- Selection of missions for in-game completion
- Acquisition or choice of loadout, perks, abilities, and gear
- Server deployment
- Loot hunting, mission completion, exploration, and secret discoveries
- Extraction
- XP usage for updates
- Repeat
Bungie’s innovative take on Marathon has spurred heated discussions among gaming circles, with several Reddit users questioning the decision to redevelop a 90s IP into an entirely different gaming experience. User theconman554 expressed, “I don’t understand why this is dubbed “Marathon” – a 90s FPS best recognized for its engrossing lore and single-player component.” Some echoed this sentiment, arguing that the game seems to bear the Marathon name alone, diverging completely from its origins. Such a shift, however, isn’t a total anomaly, mirroring previous instances like the Prey (2017) evolution, a drastic departure from the original Prey (2006).
What’s in Store for the Marathon Revival?
Details about the new Marathon’s connection to its predecessor remain shrouded in mystery. The game, set to launch on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC, is eagerly awaited. This release marks a significant milestone for the IP, given its first major launch since the 2011 rollout of the original Marathon 2 on iOS.
