According to Forbes, the leadership at Bungie has grown concerned following the cold reception of their upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon . In an effort to shift public perception, the studio has decided to lift the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for the upcoming closed alpha tests, scheduled to run from April 23 to May 4. Players will now be allowed to share their gameplay experiences and impressions publicly.

Positioned as an action-packed extraction shooter, Marathon has faced significant challenges during its development. The departure of the original game director and key team members moving to Sony projects have fueled rumors about internal difficulties. Now, Bungie is attempting to reshape the narrative around the game before its release.

The game has drawn criticism for its unconventional visual style and what some fans perceive as formulaic gameplay. In response, Bungie plans to leverage feedback from the alpha test to refine and improve the project before its release, which is slated for just five months away. An open beta is also expected closer to the game’s August launch.

Priced at $40, similar to games like Concord and Helldivers 2, Marathon remains a premium title despite calls from some fans to adopt a free-to-play model. Bungie has no plans to change its pricing strategy, further testing the patience of critics who were hoping for a return to the classic Marathon series rather than another extraction shooter.

If the alpha fails to win over players, negative sentiment around the project could intensify. Many longtime fans had hoped for a revival of the beloved Marathon franchise in its original form, rather than a game that risks following in the footsteps of Concord , which struggled to gain traction despite its initial hype.

Main image: forbes.com

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