Recent news from Bungie has indicated the end of development for Destiny 2, with no current plans for Destiny 3 and potential layoffs following the conclusion of Destiny 2‘s lifecycle. This news has spurred a massive fan reaction, with a petition urging Sony to greenlight the development of Destiny 3 gaining significant traction online.
Does the Destiny 3 Development Petition Outnumber Marathon’s Historical Player Count?
Bungie’s future remains uncertain, with speculation as to whether the decision to halt Destiny development stems from declining interest in the franchise or a strategic shift towards prioritizing Marathon, a game already being dubbed the “Destiny Killer” by the community. In an effort to influence this direction, a petition calling for Sony to approve the development of Destiny 3 has collected 174,502 verified signatures. The petition emphasizes the community’s strong desire for new adventures, fresh narratives, and innovative gameplay mechanics.
Regarding the comparison between the petition’s signature count and Marathon‘s player numbers since its launch, sources within Bungie suggest a 2:1 player ratio between Steam and consoles. During its premiere weekend, Marathon saw a peak concurrent player count ranging between 130,000 and 150,000 users. This figure falls short of the support demonstrated by the petition for the potentially canceled title. While a high number of signatures does not guarantee commercial success for a future release, this phenomenon clearly illustrates the deep loyalty of a fanbase that remains committed despite recent game updates not meeting expectations.
Is This the End for Destiny Fans?
The future of our Guardians is currently unclear. However, rather than directing frustration towards Marathon, it’s important to consider its potential. In our review of Marathon, we noted that unlike other recently launched live-service games, it possesses a solid foundation. This is built upon a satisfying combat system and a distinctive, eye-catching audiovisual presentation that creates an immersive atmosphere and a tense gameplay loop. This loop can become addictive for those who overcome its initial learning curve.
With the current development focus on Marathon, which still has aspects to refine, it holds the promise of an interesting future. We encourage players to give it a chance and offer their support, hoping that a thriving Bungie may one day return to the Destiny universe that provided so many adventures over the past decade.
