The rumors were true once again: Bungie has admitted that their upcoming live service game will need more time before launch.

Bungie has delayed the release of its planned multiplatform live service title to an undisclosed date. Originally set to launch on September 23, the Marathon reboot was reportedly in an unplayable state, and a new release window is expected to be revealed in the fall. At this point, one might even bet that the project could get canceled altogether — but that remains to be seen. In the meantime, here’s Bungie’s official statement:

“Thank you for your passionate feedback on the reveal of Marathon and the Alpha playtest, and for your patience as we took the time to listen closely and plan our next steps. Every message and real-time conversation on social media and Discord has been strong and clear. We’ve taken your input to heart and recognize that we need more time to shape Marathon into a game that truly reflects your passion. After much internal discussion, we’ve decided to delay the September 23 launch date.

The Alpha allowed us to recalibrate and focus the game around what makes it unique — survival under pressure, mystery and narrative around every corner, raid-like endgame challenges, and the genre-defining FPS combat that Bungie is known for. We’re using this extra time to enable the team to deliver the intense, high-stakes experience that a title like Marathon demands. That means strengthening the relationship between developers and our most important voices — the players. Over the coming months, we’ll continue closed testing (with Alpha participants included) to implement gameplay updates and test new features as they’re added.”

“Some of our current priorities include expanding the survival gameplay (with tougher and more engaging AI encounters, more rewarding runs, new loot types, and dynamic events to make combat more strategic and tense), building out the Marathon universe (with higher visual fidelity, richer environmental storytelling, more narrative interaction, and a darker tone that channels the spirit of the original trilogy), and boosting social gameplay (better support for solo and duo players, and proximity chat to let community-driven stories come to life).

You’ll hear from us again this fall, when we’ll share our progress and the game’s new release date. Thank you again for your patience and — even more importantly — your passion. Your continued feedback helps us make Marathon the unforgettable experience we all believe it can become.”

Let’s just hope the game doesn’t end up like Concord, which is shaping up to be the biggest flop of this console generation.

Source: Gematsu, Bungie