'Marathon' Should Be Delayed In The Wake Of Its Closed Alpha

After nearly 20 hours of gameplay, my conclusion is clear: Marathon isn't ready for its five-month-away release. It needs significantly more development time. Dismissing this as a simple "alpha" concern misses the mark; the community's expectations are far too high, confusing a preview alpha with a fully-fledged release candidate. Comparisons to leaked GTA 6 footage are inappropriate; this is a different situation entirely.

Bungie has outlined planned improvements: visual polish, balance adjustments, new gear, heroes, and a map. Don't expect hidden content to magically appear by launch.

The four-month gap until the beta – essentially a launch advertisement – is insufficient to address the game's critical issues and generate the necessary excitement. Based on alpha feedback, a dramatic increase in interest is needed.

I predict Marathon's release should be postponed until at least 2026, potentially even requiring a 4-6 month delay beyond September. This would allow for addressing key issues:

Defining its Niche: Marathon must decide whether to become a hardcore extraction shooter targeting the Tarkov audience or a more accessible alternative.

Solo Play Experience: The current design heavily favors team play, leaving solo players severely disadvantaged. This needs urgent attention.

The Crucial Fourth Map: This highly anticipated map is absent from the launch build. Delaying the release would allow for its inclusion, potentially alongside additional maps.

Pricing Concerns: The $40 price point raises concerns, especially given the abundance of free-to-play competitors. A delay could allow for a potential shift to a free-to-play model.

For months, there's been tension between Bungie's desire for extended development (a 2026 launch) and Sony's push for a 2025 release. Sony should reconsider; Marathon's success is crucial, especially given past live-service failures. Forcing a rushed September launch (concurrent with Borderlands 4, no less) would be a grave mistake.

While a delay doesn't guarantee success, it significantly improves Marathon's chances. A rushed launch will leave the game in a far weaker position. Ideally, improvements would be implemented before launch, rather than relying on post-release patches.

My overall feeling is negative. Marathon isn't ready for a successful September launch, regardless of its alpha status.

The above is the detailed content of 'Marathon' Should Be Delayed In The Wake Of Its Closed Alpha. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!