Marathon’s Game Director Departs from Bungie

Marathon’s game director is stepping away. Joe Ziegler announced that July 17 will be his final day at Bungie, handing over the leadership to assistant game director Del Chafe III, a seasoned veteran with 15 years at the studio. Chafe will guide the extraction shooter through its post-launch phase alongside creative director Julia Nardin.

“Both of them have been strong leaders for the team and are ready to take Marathon into its next chapter with an even brighter future,” Ziegler shared on social media. “I’m proud of them and excited to see them lead the future of this unique world we’ve built together.”

Ziegler didn’t disclose his next destination but hinted at another project at a different studio. “I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for supporting me and Marathon in our mission to deliver a dark and thrilling space survival experience,” he added. “The journey will continue in new and unexpected ways, so stay tuned for what this team has planned! It’s been a joy to witness all the stories you’ve crafted and the inventive ways you’ve found to take down robots and each other.”

????BREAKING: Marathon hits its LOWEST all-time peak of 2,030 players on Steam, continuing its downward trend as we approach the hundreds instead of thousands.

Marathon’s leadership has seen significant changes following mass layoffs at Bungie in June. General manager Scott Taylor was among those let go, with Joshua Deane stepping in as his replacement while also serving as the studio’s head of product. Additionally, Lars Bakken, a 20-year Bungie veteran with a history dating back to Halo 3, has also left the studio. Bakken was a senior design lead and played a key role in activity design for Marathon.

These shifts are part of approximately 300 confirmed layoffs across Bungie, representing nearly 40 percent of the studio’s estimated workforce earlier this year. Despite the challenges, there’s a commitment to Marathon as Bungie works on its next project, though player counts continue to decline, and a full PvE mode that could attract new fans isn’t expected until the fall.