Alright, so there’s this upcoming game called Marathon from Bungie — yeah, the same studio behind Halo and Destiny. People were really looking forward to it, especially because it was meant to be something fresh: an extraction shooter with a cool sci-fi vibe. But now things are looking a bit shaky. Sony, which was supporting the game, has reportedly cancelled all its paid marketing for Marathon. And honestly, when that kind of thing happens, it usually means something’s off behind the scenes.
From what we’re hearing, this move could also mean the game might not launch on its original date — which was supposed to be September 23, 2025. Nothing’s confirmed yet, but the fact that Sony pulled the plug on marketing definitely has people wondering if the release is getting pushed back.
So Why Did Sony Cancel the Marketing?
There’s no single answer, but a few things seem to be piling up. First off, there was this whole plagiarism issue. Back in May 2025, a digital artist named Fern Hook (also known as Antireal) accused Bungie of using her artwork in the game without asking. Turns out, a former artist who worked on the game had used her designs without permission. Bungie admitted it happened and said they’re now looking into how their team handles creative assets. It’s a serious slip-up and probably didn’t sit well with Sony or anyone else watching.
Then there’s the alpha testing feedback. Apparently, when Bungie gave early access to some players, the response wasn’t great. People said it just didn’t feel right. Bungie even dropped the NDA so testers could share their honest opinions publicly — which, to be fair, shows they want real feedback. But still, when alpha testers aren’t impressed, that’s a red flag.
Bigger Picture: Sony’s Live-Service Game Plans Are Changing Too
What’s happening with Marathon isn’t just about one game. Sony itself is kinda rethinking how many live-service games it wants to support. At one point, they were aiming to launch twelve of them by March 2026. Now? They’ve reportedly cut that number in half — down to six. That’s a pretty big shift.
They’ve already cancelled a few other projects, including a God of War spinoff and another one called Concord that didn’t even last long after release. So when you look at all that together, it’s not too surprising that Marathon is facing some trouble. It’s like Sony is being extra careful now with where they invest and what kind of games they want to back.
What’s Next for Marathon?
Right now, the game isn’t officially cancelled — not yet anyway. But if you’re a fan waiting for it, you might want to stay realistic. With no marketing push, early gameplay not landing well, and Sony scaling back its live-service lineup, it’s kind of hard to stay super confident about the September launch.
People are hoping Bungie takes this time to fix what needs fixing. Maybe the game comes back stronger. Or maybe we hear about a delay soon. Either way, fans are watching closely. We’ll update you if there’s any solid word on what’s next.
