For years, Marathon developers have been asking for a separate PvE mode, but Bungie management ignored them
The situation around the upcoming Marathon shooter is becoming increasingly tense after a few difficult weeks for the studio. It all started with the launch of a closed alpha version of the game, which received mostly restrained and mixed reviews. One of the reasons for the criticism was the lack of separate PvE. The developers wanted it, but Bungie did not hear them.
Here's What We Know
A new report by Paul Tassi from Forbes sheds light on what really happened behind the scenes at Bungie. According to Tassi's sources, Bungie developers have been expressing concerns about the direction of Marathon for at least five years. Many have repeatedly emphasised the need to add a PvE component to the game, but Bungie's senior management, described by some as a group of 'good old boys', have often brushed aside these warnings and requests.
'Marathon was originally proposed by Bungie's senior management, a group of 'good old boys', and five years ago developers told them what would work and what wouldn't, but they were often ignored. Many have said that there should be some sort of PvE component to the game," the report says.
In an interview with GamesRadar, Marathon's game director Joe Ziegler spoke quite frankly about the game's direction. He made it clear that Marathon does not seek to please everyone, especially those who are looking for a purely PvE experience.
The report also reveals that Bungie's original marketing plan for Marathon, which included a new trailer and a pre-order launch in June, was cancelled earlier this month. Additionally, Bungie may replace the single open beta with a series of public playtests, although these details are not yet finalised.
Source: Forbes
