The recently unveiled gameplay for Bungie’s Marathon has sparked various discussions, notably comparisons to the defunct Concord, which Sony shut down last October. Responding to criticism, Stephan Williams, a former senior VFX artist at Firewalk Studios, took to Reddit to encourage gamers to give Marathon a fair chance and to consider the developers’ feelings.

“Concord failed to inspire players, and the message was heard loud and clear. It was gut-wrenching to see our project fail, and be the laughing stock of many online. I have learned that failure is what drives me to succeed. No one feels as bad as the people who put their time on the line, hoping it will entertain the masses of gamers across the globe.”
Translation: Concord didn’t captivate players, leaving a lasting impact on its creators who invested so much time hoping to entertain the gaming community.

Williams addressed the negative remarks suggesting Marathon is merely a continuation of Concord, stating that it’s wild to declare a game a failure prior to its release.

Despite the failure of Concord, a game that Sony pulled offline within weeks of its launch, Williams expressed optimism for Marathon, driven by his faith in Bungie’s capabilities. He emphasized the importance of empathy towards developers, especially those who dedicate substantial efforts into creating games.

Bungie’s approach with Marathon aims to innovate within the premium game market rather than following the free-to-play model seen with Concord. Williams remains hopeful about the upcoming title, stating, “I am stoked to see the fully polished product; Bungie will cook. They always do.”