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Bungie replace Marathon director amid reports of creative leadership shake-upFormer Valorant director Joe Ziegler replaces Christopher Barrett
Former Valorant director Joe Ziegler replaces Christopher Barrett
Image credit:Bungie
Image credit:Bungie
Bungie have announced a change in director on theirupcoming revivalof their classic shooterMarathon, amid reports the studio is once again shaking up its creative leadership. FormerValorantdirector Joe Ziegler confirmed his appointment onXwitterlast night, replacing long-time Bungie designer Christopher Barrett in the role.
“For the last 9 months I’ve been working onMarathonas the game director,” Ziegler wrote. “We’re still baking, but I’m excited to share with you more info on the game as we get closer and closer to bringing it to all of you.”
Hey everyone! Fun update: for the last 9Months I’ve been working on Marathon as the game director. We’re still baking, but I’m excited to share with you more info on the game as we get closer and closer to bringing it to all of you.— Ziegler (@Ziegler_Dev)March 19, 2024
Hey everyone! Fun update: for the last 9Months I’ve been working on Marathon as the game director. We’re still baking, but I’m excited to share with you more info on the game as we get closer and closer to bringing it to all of you.
The news comes in the wake of anIGNreport that suggests the studio is preparing for another leadership shuffle in an attempt to get Marathon out the door before the summer of 2026. The game was recentlydelayed to 2025, but according to IGN’s sources, the summer of 2026 is when the final payouts fromSony’s acquisitionof the studio will come into effect, at which point it’s widely expected there will be an exodus of senior developers.
Marathon has already reportedly shifted direction since Ziegler took charge of it, the IGN report goes on to say, with one source claiming the game will now have a cast of pre-defined heroes to choose from, rather than custom player characters.
