7 Reasons Why Bungie’s Sci-fi Extraction Shooter Marathon Could Flop

Bungie has released a trailer and gameplay footage for its sci-fi extraction shooter Marathon, which has sparked heated discussions, with many fans expressing skepticism about its potential success. With the changing landscape of gaming and consumerism, the critiques levelled at Bungie’s latest game are gaining traction. So here are seven reasons why Marathon might struggle to make a mark in the gaming industry upon its release September 23rd.

1. Overcrowded Competition

The extraction shooter genre is no longer a niche playground. It has evolved into a battlefield that is packed with established giants and innovative newcomers. Games like Escape from Tarkov deliver punishing realism while Hunt: Showdown blends PvPvE tension with gothic flair. You have Dark and Darker that offers a fantasy-infused twist and free-to-play options like Arena Breakout which has lowered the barrier to entry. Even Gray Zone Warfare is carving out its space with tactical depth. 

With this in mind, gamers are pointing out that Marathon is stepping into a saturated market where competitors boast years of content, refined mechanics, and loyal communities. How can Marathon compete when players are already spoiled for choice?

Let’s face it, gone are the days when the bigger publishers and developers could capitalize on niche trends, spearheaded by indies and smaller developers, with better graphics, infrastructure, and their promotional powerhouses. Concord is the latest example of this and Marathon could follow in its footsteps. 

2. Visuals

Visuals are often the first impression, and Marathon’s haven’t wowed some of the crowd crowd. In fact, some gamers describe the art style as “fine but forgettable,” with some calling the color schemes, that is neon-heavy and oddly muted in places, as “off-putting.” Compared to the gritty realism of Tarkov or the striking dark western palette of Hunt: Showdown, Marathon’s aesthetic feels like it’s trying to please everyone and ends up pleasing a few. 

While Marathon’s art director Joseph Cross calls it “graphic realism” with influences from Ghost in the Shell, Metal Gear Solid 2, and Wipeout, the results are nothing like those properties and certainly a departure from the original Marathon IP. Neon colors are supposed to pop and grab the eye. Marathon doesn’t do that. 

In a genre where immersion is key, Marathon’s visuals could fail to hook players long-term.

3. Lack of a Unique Hook

And that’s where we come to the next big problem: the lack of a unique hook. Sure, Marathon’s sci-fi setting could be pointed to as the hook. Especially from the studio that brought us Halo and  Destiny. They have plenty of experience developing sci-fi games.

But the setting isn’t enough to be a hook. One could look at The Forever Winter which is a sci-fi type game with a dystopian setting which offers some very interesting hooks that have helped it gain momentum with gamers. 

So what does Marathon bring to the table that others don’t? Tarkov redefined hardcore realism, Dark and Darker leaned into medieval fantasy, and Hunt: Showdown mastered atmospheric tension in a western setting. Meanwhile, Marathon’s sci-fi aesthetic and extraction mechanics don’t seem to break new ground. Early trailers suggest a competent shooter, but competence isn’t enough in a genre that demands innovation and gimmicks to convince gamers to leave one IP for another.

Without a clear selling point, be it groundbreaking gameplay or a fresh narrative angle, Marathon is at great risk of blending into the background.

4. Betrayal of Expectations

For fans of the original Marathon games from the 90s, Bungie’s foray into this universe can be seen as a disappointing one. The original games were first-person shooters with stories to tell and crafted its own universe. Whereas, instead of a continuation of the story and experience, Bungie’s Marathon is an extraction shooter that is using the IPs setting to sell a live-service IP, digital items, and battle passes rather than storytelling.

As stated before, it also doesn’t help that the visuals from Bungie’s game is a departure from the original Marathon aesthetic. While the original Marathon concept art illustrator Craig Mullins certainly liked the new game’s visuals, he also admitted that “It does seem to have almost nothing to do with the original.”

Bungie fans are feeling the sting of betrayal as well, though their reasons would differ and, most likely, focus on the fact that Bungie is working on an extraction shooter rather than a narrative-driven shooter of some sort like another Halo-type game. Or would have been happier if this new Marathon was more like the original. 

If Bungie had worked on a new Marathon shooter that focused on gameplay and story, then proceeded to make an extraction shooter version spinoff, then such a game would have been more readily accepted. By chasing the money first, rather than breathing life back into an old franchise, speaks volumes to gamers as to where the priorities are with this game (Betrayal of Expectations is a major point in games failing).

5. Pay-to-Play Pitfall

In an era where free-to-play models dominate the shooter genre as we see with Fortnite, Warzone, or Arena Breakout, Marathon’s pay-to-play structure feels like a major misstep. Yes, many extraction shooters are pay-to-play, but not all of them. And Bungie is coming in too late to the party. Just like Concord did and, in failing to read the market, quickly crashed and burned as a result because it couldn’t provide a unique twist for an already-saturated market.

Social media reactions highlight this point with a growing reluctance to shell out upfront for a game when alternatives offer robust experiences at no initial cost. Why invest in Marathon when you can jump into Arena Breakout raids or Dark and Darker’s dungeon crawls without spending a dime? Unless Bungie delivers an irresistible value proposition, the price tag will alienate budget-conscious gamers.

And the worry is that this could be another grind-heavy, heavily monetized game with generic gameplay.

Who wants to pay upfront for that in 2025?

6. Bungie’s Shaky Reputation

Then there is Bungie itself.

Let’s be honest, while Bungie’s legacy with Halo is legendary, since then the shine has dulled and it has been shown that the developer just “can’t stick it” anymore. The Destiny franchise, while successful, has faced criticism for repetitive content, monetization missteps, and failing to recapture the magic of Bungie’s early days. 

Social media sentiment reflects this, with users questioning whether Bungie can deliver a bold new IP. Posts often cite Destiny 2’s rocky updates and layoffs at the studio as red flags. If Marathon stumbles out of the gate, Bungie’s declining goodwill might not cushion the fall this time around.

Sure, Bungie can develop solid gameplay experiences. But that isn’t enough. Not in a market where there are competitors that offer great gameplay experiences. 

Bungie’s reputation is not going to help it sell as many copies as some may think.

7. Misaligned Target Audience – Alienating Destiny Fans

Finally, the more divisive critiques center on Marathon’s apparent aim for a “modern audience.” Social media users are certainly focusing on its inclusion of female characters and vibrant, inclusive design choices. Elements which are absent in Tarkov that caters to a predominantly male, hardcore crowd. While diversity isn’t inherently a flaw, critics argue Marathon’s aesthetic and character designs, which are like androgynous versions of The Hunger Games’ eccentric Capital residents, feels as if they’re chasing broad appeal from a “modern audience” at the expense of the genre’s core fans. If the game leans too far into accessibility, it risks alienating the very players who thrive on the punishing stakes of extraction shooters.

One could assume that Bungie is hoping to attract a younger crowd, especially on consoles. But considering that extraction shooters overwhelmingly appeal to older, male gamers, it is highly unlikely that younger players, both male and female, are going to stick with Marathon. It also doesn’t help Bungie that a significant portion of gamers, mostly younger ones, don’t like difficult gaming experiences or losing their items (40% of Hunt Showdown players have never killed another player). 

As for the older gamers, they are already heavily invested in time and money when it comes to the more established IPs in the extraction shooter genre. At this point, Marathon has yet to show anything that would offer a good reason for consumers to switch to Bungie’s product. 

And while one can applaud Bungie for being honest with its Destiny fanbase when saying that Marathon is probably not the type of game for them because it is a PvP-focused game, it certainly doesn’t help trying to dissuade and alienate them either.

At the end of the day, this is all conjecture and Marathon isn’t completely doomed, but it faces an uphill battle. There is a large and vocal contingent on social media that highlights the fact that Marathon is entering into a genre bursting with competition with a risky paywall and a lack of compelling factors which is all compounded by Bungie’s uneven track record. 

To succeed, Marathon absolutely needs to carve out a bold niche, dazzle with its execution, and prove it’s worth the price of admission. Otherwise, it might become another cautionary tale for a once-popular developer failing in a genre that rewards not only the strongest, but usually the first ones to push the envelope.

Do you think Marathon will flop when it comes out September 23rd or will it find some sort of success?

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