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In recent news, Bungie has decided to lift the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) on the Alpha version of their upcoming game, Marathon, following an underwhelming reception to its gameplay reveal. This information comes from a report by Paul Tassi of Forbes, an established voice in the gaming community with connections to Bungie.
While players got a glimpse of Marathon’s gameplay, the exposure was limited and carefully curated by Bungie. Only a select few content creators were allowed early access, leading to a controlled reveal environment.
Despite this careful management, skepticism among players persists. The reactions to the gameplay showcase were mixed, creating concern particularly because Marathon will be a paid, multiplayer-only game.
Insiders close to Tassi have indicated that the leadership at Bungie felt apprehensive following the response to the reveal. As a result, they opted to lift the NDA and distribute more Alpha testing codes to a broader audience.
Marathon lifts NDA as Bungie fears the worst
In light of the significant layoffs at Bungie in 2024 and the company’s reduction in content updates for Destiny 2, the success of Marathon has become critical for the studio’s future. This underlines the stakes involved as they navigate the game’s launch.
Previous reports suggested that initial playtests within the studio were not overwhelmingly positive. Although testers did not express outright disdain, the lack of eagerness to continue playing raised alarms, particularly given that feedback was gathered in late 2023, before any major adjustments were made.
The official gameplay reveal, along with streams from content creators, failed to produce the enthusiasm Bungie had anticipated. Initially, the Alpha was meant to be a closed event with confidentiality, but this stance soon changed following the mixed feedback.
“As developers, we believe community feedback and dialogue are essential to creating the best version of Marathon. Up until now, this feedback has come from closed playtest sessions,” Bungie expressed in a recent Twitter announcement.
“In the spirit of looking toward the future, we’ve decided to remove the NDA from our Closed Alpha Test. Everyone can share their thoughts, feedback, and footage starting on April 23.”
While this reasoning may hold some validity, Tassi’s sources suggest that there are deeper motives involved.
For example, the Alpha serves as an essential technical test, necessitating a controlled player count to prevent server overload. Although they have accepted a significant number of testers and even provided friend codes, it remains unclear how well their servers will handle the increased load.
Moreover, the gameplay presentation seems to have unsettled Bungie’s team, motivating them to expedite the testing phase and expand the Alpha’s reach.
“After the reaction to the gameplay reveal, leadership felt anxious but attempted to reassure teams. Ultimately, they reasoned that lifting the NDA could help reshape public perception,” Tassi’s sources stated. In addition, reports indicate that an open beta is planned for August to attract more players and encourage pre-orders.
On the subject of pricing, Marathon is expected to launch with a price tag of $40, consistent with previous reports. However, new information suggests that there may be additional editions available at a higher price point.
While the specifics of these alternative editions are yet unknown, it is evident that the game will not adopt a free-to-play model. Thus, the initial weeks following its release will be crucial for Bungie to establish and expand its player base.
Source
www.dexerto.com