New ‘Marathon’ Leaks Prove Bungie’s Art Team Is Still Incredible, Even If The Studio Is In Trouble
Bungie might be a chaotic mess right now, but good lord, do they know how to make a video game look expensive.
A fresh batch of leaks has hit the internet, giving us our best look yet at the factions and agents coming to Marathon. The footage, which originated on Bilibili before spreading to Streamable, showcases intro cinematics for three specific groups: Arachne, MIDA, and Sekiguchi Genetics.
The Visuals Are Unmatched
I have said it before, and I will say it again: nobody does sci-fi aesthetics quite like Bungie. Even with Destiny currently in a weird, stagnant limbo ("ehh" is putting it kindly), the art direction remains world-class.
The leaked cinematics are dripping with style. The graphic design, the colors, the character models—it is all incredibly distinct.
Arachne seems focused on PvP quests, bringing a competitive edge.
MIDA—a name that will ring bells for any Destiny or old-school Marathon fan—is handling explosives quests.
Sekiguchi Genetics rounds out the trio, leaning into the hard sci-fi corporate horror vibe.
If this game was judged solely on its ability to produce a cool wallpaper or a stylish trailer, it would already be Game of the Year.
Bungie’s "ARC Raiders" Nightmare
However, pretty graphics don't save games, and right now, Bungie is in a terrifying position.
Behind closed doors, I imagine the executives are doing two things simultaneously: foaming at the mouth trying to hunt down these leakers, and absolutely shaking in their boots because of ARC Raiders.
We have to be real about the landscape. ARC Raiders has recently launched to insane success. It has effectively cornered the "stylish, third-person PvE/PvP extraction shooter" market before Marathon could even tie its shoelaces. Embark Studios dropped a polished, fun, and visually stunning game that people are playing right now.
Can Marathon Catch Up?
Bungie isn't just launching a new IP anymore, they are chasing a trend that has already been perfected by a competitor. Marathon needs to be more than just "the game that looks cool." It needs to play better than ARC Raiders, which is a very high bar to clear.
The leak confirms that the style is there. The "MIDA" references confirm the lore is there. But with the studio bleeding talent (Such as Joseph Cross) and the extraction genre getting crowded, Marathon feels like a gamble that Bungie cannot afford to lose.
For now, I will keep watching these leaked cinematics on loop because, visually, they are a masterpiece. I just hope the game is actually fun to play when it finally arrives in 2026.