The upcoming extraction-shooter - which is being developed by Bungie - has been the subject of controversy due its shift away from the series’ single-player focus in favour of player-versus-player.

Following the game’s big reveal in April, fans criticised Marathon after the title had its alpha test a month later.

Now, Bungie has said Marathon will not release on 23 September 2025 due to the “passionate” community feedback.

In a blog post, the studio said: “Thank you not only for your passionate feedback around the Marathon reveal and Alpha playtest. But also for your patience while we took the time to listen closely and chart our next steps.

“Through every comment and real-time conversation on social media and Discord, your voice has been strong and clear. We've taken this to heart, and we know we need more time to craft Marathon into the game that truly reflects your passion.”

Bungie added that “after much discussion”, the studio decided to indefinitely delay Marathon to ensure the team could deliver on the game’s “uniquely compelling” premise.

Bungie continued: “The alpha test created an opportunity for us to calibrate and focus the game on what will make it uniquely compelling.

“We’re using this [extra] time to empower the team to create the intense, high-stakes experience that a title like Marathon is built around.”

Bungie concluded it would give an update on the progess it had made on Marathon this Fall, where it would also share the game’s new launch date.

This comes after it was reported staff morale at Bungie had been in “free fall” once the company acknowledged using an external artist’s work in Marathon without permission.

Bungie’s management has also been accused of being “toxic” by some staff, who claimed higher-ups would regularly “shut down creatives on a core level”.