Marathon Dev Clarifies It’s Not Trying to Replace Destiny 2

The Marathon game director has recently clarified the studio’s expectations regarding the upcoming entry in Bungie’s franchise, stating that it is not trying to replace Destiny 2. After some quiet years since the initial announcement of the new Marathon game, Bungie has finally revealed that the new entry will be released on September 23—though the developer wants to make it clear that it won’t be like a Destiny game.

The upcoming Marathon game marks the revival of a franchise that has been dormant for decades. Kicking off in 1994, the first game introduced players to a first-person shooter experience with features that would later become standard in the genre. It offered a deep narrative integrated with gameplay, environmental storytelling, and lore-building. Now, Bungie is set to bring back the old franchise on September 23. However, the developer is now mostly associated with Destiny and Halo, so the Marathon director wants to make sure players know what to expect from the game.

Related

Bungie Comments on How Marathon Plans to Compete With Other Extraction Shooters

Although Marathon is entering a somewhat saturated market, Bungie already has a plan for how to compete with other extraction shooters—kind of.

Speaking to GamesRadar+, Marathon game director Joe Ziegler emphasized that, despite any similarities between Marathon and Destiny 2, the new game won’t replace Destiny 2, and that’s not the developer’s goal. Ziegler was very clear in stating that “Destiny 2 has a future,” and developers at Bungie are working to deliver new content for fans on that front. Nevertheless, the director believes that Destiny fans who enjoy PvP sandbox experiences will likely find Marathon exciting to play—but they shouldn’t expect just another Destiny game.

The New Marathon Game Isn’t Trying to Be Destiny 3

On top of that, Ziegler did admit that Destiny fans might have an advantage when diving into the new Marathon due to some similarities with Destiny 2’s weapon systems. However, Ziegler insists that the new changes introduced to the system will require players to relearn some things. The director warned that players who don’t really enjoy PvP may not have as much fun with Marathon, as the game will feature those kinds of interactions—explaining that there will be instances where a player will “come across you and shoot you.”

For fans hoping Marathon will become Destiny 3 or those only looking for PvE gameplay, Ziegler emphasized that “definitely Marathon is not the game for you.” The director was very firm in stating that the game is not for everybody. While players still have to wait a few months to experience it, some early comments from those involved in the game’s playtest indicate that Marathon has the potential to become a great new entry in the classic franchise.

Marathon

Released

September 23, 2025

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Franchise

Marathon

• 
•