Marathon vs. Concord: Is Bungie’s New FPS Doomed to Repeat History?
The first-person shooter genre remains one of gaming’s most competitive battlegrounds. With titans like Counter-Strike, VALORANT, and Apex Legends dominating the scene, new entrants face an uphill battle for player attention and loyalty.
Bungie, the legendary studio behind Halo and Destiny, recently revealed gameplay footage for their upcoming extraction shooter Marathon, generating both excitement and skepticism across the gaming community. The April 12th trailer quickly accumulated hundreds of thousands of views, but also sparked unflattering comparisons to one of gaming’s most notorious failures.
The Ghost of Concord Looms Large
In 2024, Firewalk Studios’ Concord became synonymous with catastrophic gaming failures. Despite significant pre-release hype, the hero-based sci-fi shooter collapsed within two weeks of launch, with player counts plummeting so dramatically that developers shut down servers and issued refunds by early September.
Now, history seems poised to repeat itself as Marathon faces similar criticisms. Social media platforms have erupted with comparisons between the two titles, with “Concord 2” becoming a popular moniker for Bungie’s new venture. The similarities are difficult to ignore: both feature hero-based gameplay, neon-infused sci-fi aesthetics, outer space settings, and unique character abilities.
Different DNA, Similar Challenges
Despite surface-level similarities, Marathon does have several distinguishing factors working in its favor. Most significantly, Bungie’s pedigree far exceeds that of Firewalk Studios. With decades of experience creating genre-defining shooters, Bungie has cultivated a reputation for exceptional gunplay mechanics and weapon customization.
Professional streamer DrLupo, who has participated in Marathon’s playtesting for several years, has cautiously praised the game while acknowledging room for improvement. With the alpha test beginning April 23 and full release not scheduled until September, Bungie still has time to incorporate feedback and refine their offering.
Market Realities
The fundamental challenge facing Marathon isn’t just avoiding Concord’s pitfalls—it’s carving out space in an incredibly saturated market. Even games with solid mechanics and high-profile backing can struggle, as demonstrated by Spectre Divide’s inability to maintain player interest despite endorsement from streaming superstar Shroud.
For Marathon to succeed where others have failed, it will need to offer something truly distinctive. Bungie’s reputation and technical expertise provide a foundation, but players have grown increasingly selective about which games deserve their time and attention.
The Verdict
While premature to dismiss Marathon as “Concord 2,” the skepticism isn’t entirely unwarranted. The FPS landscape is littered with promising titles that couldn’t sustain player engagement. Bungie faces not just the challenge of creating a good game, but an exceptional one that can compete with established juggernauts.
The coming months will be crucial. How Bungie responds to feedback from the alpha test, refines their gameplay loop, and differentiates Marathon from both Concord and existing market leaders will determine whether the game carves out its own legacy or becomes another cautionary tale.
For gamers and industry observers alike, Marathon represents a fascinating case study in how even legendary studios must continuously evolve to meet shifting player expectations in gaming’s most competitive genre.