Part 5/6:
While delaying a game is sometimes seen as a sign of good project management—an effort to avoid a disastrous launch—it's not a guaranteed solution. The case of Marathon demonstrates how an unfinished or problematic game, if released prematurely, can damage a studio's reputation and player trust beyond repair.
The criticisms of Marathon aren’t limited to gameplay: the art theft controversy raises questions about internal processes and quality control. Moving forward, Bungie will need more than just delays; they need a fundamental rethinking of their development strategies to regain community trust and deliver a product worthy of their reputation.