Bungie’s upcoming shooter, Marathon, is facing its latest setback as a new report claims Sony has canceled all paid marketing plans for the game. The news comes amid internal chaos at the studio, with morale among developers said to be in “free fall” due to leadership decisions and direction issues.
An art theft scandal recently rocked the project when promotional materials were copied from an indie artist’s work. Bungie apologized and promised to review all assets, but the damage was already done. The game’s development has also been marred by mixed feedback from the Closed Alpha test, with some calling the leadership “toxic and humiliating.”
The situation is further complicated by reports of “public playtests” replacing the planned open beta, leading many to wonder if Bungie is trying to salvage what’s left of the project. Sony reportedly canceled all paid marketing plans for Marathon, citing it as an unusual move given the game’s high profile.
Bungie has yet to comment on the situation or confirm a delay in the game’s release. However, pushing forward with the planned September 23 launch could make things worse for both Bungie and the game.
Source: https://thegamepost.com/report-marathon-delay-bungie-scraps-all-paid-marketing