Bungie's upcoming evacuation shooter. Marathonseems like a mystery.
I wasn't particularly impressed with the game's beta testing in early April this year, and I wasn't alone. After a lukewarm reception and many negative reviews, Bungie was forced to delay the game from its original September release date so that more testing could be done and numerous changes could be made.
But since then a new giant has entered space: ARK Raiders released last month and became an instant hit in the loot shooter genre, attracting a whole new group of players who had not previously encountered this type of game. Since its release, it has consistently been the most popular game on Steam, and it has even gained popularity among console gamers. And I can't help but wonder what effect this might have on Marathon potential success or failure.
Now that players like me enjoy the thrill of deployment, plunder, survival and loot, Marathon could set us in motion if it could anchor the gameplay loop in the same way as ARK Raiders has. Likewise, success ARK Raiders could deter potential Marathon buyers from taking the plunge if they're still enjoying Embark Studios' new hit.
I do think there's room for both, since one is a third-person shooter and the other is a first-person shooter from a company that excels at gameplay from that perspective. They are both stylistically completely different, and Marathon futuristic and colorful aesthetics compared to ARK Raiders gloomy post-apocalyptic setting.
Will ARK Raiders the friendliness factor carries over to Marathon? It depends. Leaks from recent tests claim that Bungie is adding contactless chat to Marathon after all, that's an important reason why ARK Raiders it was so much fun for many who don't usually enjoy the competitive nature of the genre.
I wouldn't be surprised if I see some ARK Raiders players are now ready to try Marathon if they weren't there before. I'm certainly more excited about this now that I've now truly understood the concept of extraction, thanks in large part to how well ARK Raiders is. The rest is up to Bungie to create a product that will attract players and hit multiple cylinders at once. ARK Raiders there is, so it's hoped that these last few months of additional testing for the game will have an extremely positive impact.
It definitely feels like data mining games are quickly becoming the next “big thing” in gaming, and I wouldn't be surprised if some established IP developers continue to explore it. To Marathon launches, we have PUBG: Black Budget Next month I will conduct a playtest, which will be dedicated to the extraction of minerals in the Battle Royale game.
Escape from Tarkov paved the way, but since then we have names like Delta Force, Hunt: ClashAnd Darker and darker twisting their own versions and I expect more companies to follow this trend and there are rumors that Call of Duty will return extract mode DMZ in next year's game.
There may come a point when extraction games become saturated, but for now I think the industry is rife with potential, and Marathon could ultimately benefit from an influx of fans of new genres.
What are you thinking about Marathon potential? Will ARK Raiders help or harm? Let us know your own thoughts in the comments.
