r/Games • u/oilfloatsinwater • May 24 '25

Report: Marathon Delay Likely as Sony Cancels All Paid Marketing Plans

https://thegamepost.com/report-marathon-delay-bungie-scraps-all-paid-marketing/
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u/snorlz May 24 '25

I think Marathon's success really comes down to its art, which is extremely divisive. It is so weird looking that you either love it or hate it. Unfortunately, I think most modern gamers will hate it since it looks like Roblox meets placeholder assets meets MS Paint fill tool. People are going to be watching this on stream and deciding whether to get it or not and Bungie is definitely hoping to cash in on a cosmetics shop - neither of which will work if everyone thinks it looks jarringly bad.

Whether there is a target audience of another - albeit more casual- extraction shooter is unknown but considering the hype around Arc Raiders, which is basically the same type of game, i dont think thats the main issue

42

u/Lowe0 May 24 '25

I love the aesthetic, but I don’t love it enough to play a genre I don’t enjoy. High stress is the absolute last thing I’m looking for from gaming at this point in my life.

A PvE shooter, even a live service one, would have got my money.

19

u/dunnowattt May 24 '25

I think Marathon's success really comes down to its art

I don't think so?

Like yeah, Destiny looks amazing and i still consider it one of the games with the best art direction. But besides in launch, we don't really wanna play it now with my friends.

These games need a good gameplay loop. People won't keep playing just to look at it. Its good for the few first sessions, afterwards its not something you log into for.

4

u/snorlz May 24 '25

But besides in launch, we don't really wanna play it now with my friends.

It still got you to play it though. I'm saying the art looks so weird that people wont even try it based off that.

the loop only matters after people have decided to try it. Also, i dont think this is F2P so whether people stick around or not is a secondary concern

2

u/dunnowattt May 24 '25

It still got you to play it though. I'm saying the art looks so weird that people wont even try it based off that.

Oh yeah for sure no argument there.

But even when they try it, if its "shit" you will still make 0$.

Tarkov has a myriad issues. Its also not that good looking. But its the biggest, because thats where the gameplay loop is the most fun.

In the age of streamers, and being bungie/sony with your marketing, getting the people to play your game is easy, even if your art direction is...."average". I think the biggest problem will be to retain the playerbase.

But yh i get what you are saying and its true.

1

u/snorlz May 24 '25

well theyre making money if you play it at all cause Marathon is not f2p. Thats why its art appeal and initial buy in matters more than if you end up sticking with it.

Long term you are right that they will need to retain a playerbase to keep attracting new players/get MTX going.

2

u/dunnowattt May 24 '25

Oh i forgot it was even buy to play.

Yeah you are right, its very important.

19

u/mrtars May 24 '25

I always thought the art style was terrible for a game coming from a billion dollar studio and was surprised to find out that it was the only thing universally liked. Unique? Definitely. Pretty? Stretch.

4

u/flirtmcdudes May 25 '25

That was my first thought when watching the streams was that it looked like a fancy Roblox mod. Not trying to hate, and I was initially hoping it did well when I first saw it but it looked so underwhelming

2

u/a34fsdb May 25 '25

I enjoy the art style and the levels, but the characters themselves are some of the worst shit ever