Joseph Cross, who served as franchise art director on Marathon, left Bungie last December, not long after the studio announced the reboot would now arrive in March 2026. His departure comes amid a wave of challenges surrounding the game: multiple delays, layoffs and internal restructuring at Bungie, allegations of plagiarism, and ongoing financial strain linked to Destiny 2’s waning momentum. All these troubles have cast a long shadow over the project, especially at a time when enthusiasm for big-budget live service shooters feels increasingly fragile.
Speaking about his time on Marathon, Cross was candid about the design philosophy behind the game’s mechanics. He acknowledged that nobody on the team was trying to reinvent the wheel with the core gameplay. Instead, they focused on refining familiar shooter conventions rather than upending them. That put extra pressure on the visual and artistic direction to push boundaries — to give the game a distinct identity that stands apart in a crowded market.
Given the long history of the Marathon brand, from its origins to its new sci-fi reboot, the visuals had to feel fresh and daring. Cross’s approach aimed to take creative risks so the art could carry the weight of innovation the gameplay itself wouldn’t deliver. In a climate where the shooter genre can easily feel stale, that bold visual ambition was crucial. Even amid the setbacks Bannister faced, the art side of Marathon was poised to offer something striking and memorable.
Source: rockpapershotgun.com
