Joseph Ziegler, the game director for Bungie’s extraction shooter Marathon, has stepped down from his position. Ziegler announced his departure on social media today, noting that he is moving on to new professional opportunities.
Leadership Transition
Ziegler confirmed that the project's direction is now in the hands of Del Chafe III, who will lead development alongside Creative Director Julia Nardin. In a statement regarding his exit, Ziegler thanked the community for supporting the team's “windy mission to bring a dark and terrifying space survival frontier” to players, adding that the development team has new plans in store for the title.
Context of the Departure
This change follows a period of significant downsizing at Bungie. Late last month, the studio cut 292 full-time staff members and moved to sunset Destiny 2. While Sony has maintained its commitment to Marathon, the game has faced a challenging environment since its release.
Current Performance
Public data indicates the title has struggled to gain traction. On PC, the game has seen peaks of approximately 6,000 concurrent players over the last few weeks. While the release of Season 2 and a recent free-to-play week provided a temporary boost in engagement, the game faces an uphill battle to retain its player base. Sony is expected to require significant patience as the team attempts to improve the game's standing in a highly competitive market.