Leaked Marathon screenshots reveal visual improvements and new gameplay details despite internal issues
Despite a significant amount of controversy surrounding the upcoming PvPvE shooter Marathon by Bungie, the company has conducted a closed alpha test of the game. Unfortunately, we have not seen many details from the test due to non-disclosure agreements signed by players. However, according to a report by Forbes, some leaked screenshots indicate significant improvements, especially in terms of visuals.
Here's What We Know
According to Forbes, Twitter user Rocksiza managed to access several screenshots and share them in a post (which was later deleted) on the platform. The user noted that he was able to share these screenshots because he had not signed any non-disclosure agreement and removed them at Bungie's request only out of respect for the studio.
Although the screenshots are no longer available for viewing, the Forbes report describes some visual improvements. These include Marathon's revamped outdoor locations, which appear to be more complete with improved lighting and higher density. One screenshot also gives us a glimpse of a dead player character with pools of blue "blood", reminiscent of the effect from the first 2023 trailer.
Other improvements spotted in the screenshots include new icons in the Black Market material exchange, the existence of a new sniper rifle called the V99 channel rifle (which is described as feeling similar to the sniper from Team Fortress 2), increased resurrection times, clearer map legends, and a new medic wounder that is linked to a healing drone that can drop medkits (described as similar to Lifeline in Apex Legends).
Earlier, Bungie announced that the release of Marathon was postponed from the original date of 23 September. The studio has not yet announced a new release date, but stated that it is focusing on improving the game after receiving feedback from alpha tests. Among the improvements being made to the game are "new types of loot," new dynamic events, and more tension in combat as AI enemies become more challenging.
Apart from that, the studio is relatively quiet about its extraction shooter. Rumours last month indicated that several internal changes were being made to the game. This also reportedly led to the studio "abandoning" the marketing strategy that Bungie used for Marathon.
These rumours follow other reports that indicated that morale within the Marathon development team at Bungie was "plummeting". The report came shortly after a controversy over the use of plagiarism in the game without obtaining permission from the original artist. The report stated that "the mood has never been worse" in various departments at Bungie, and that the situation was "actively hostile" to the potential future of Bungie if Marathon failed.
Marathon is in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Forbes
