The game director of Bungie’s new extraction shooter, Marathon, has stepped down just four months after the game's launch.

Joseph Ziegler, who had been steering the development of Marathon since late 2022, took to X on the 17th to announce his departure and the leadership transition. Rather than detailing the specific reasons for his exit, he noted that he would be embarking on a new journey elsewhere and promised to share more details soon. He also took a moment to express profound gratitude to the players who supported him through the grueling process of crafting such a dark, unforgiving cosmic survival experience.

The vacancy will be filled by Dell Chape III, who previously served as associate director. He will lead the development team alongside creative lead Julia Nadin. Joseph Ziegler praised the pair, stating that both individuals have proven their exceptional leadership and are the right people to guide the game toward a better future.

The community is expressing concern regarding this leadership change. The core issue is that this comes not only just four months after the game's service began, but also amidst a persistent downward trend. Indeed, as of the 18th, the daily peak concurrent players for Marathon on Steam has plummeted by 93% from its initial launch figures, hovering around the 6,500 mark.

Meanwhile, the development team is preparing for a major overhaul to overcome this decline, with plans scheduled for the 21st, including the introduction of the PvE mode 'Vault Breaker'.