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(Image credit: Bungie) Despite the hurdles, *Marathon*’s visual identity seems to have resonated more deeply than *Concord*’s. While *Concord* faced backlash for its forgettable character designs and bland environments, *Marathon*’s reveal sparked instant intrigue through its bold iconography and high-concept trailers, such as the cinematic short by Alberto Mielgo. It’s a divisive style, certainly, but one that commands attention—a far cry from the general indifference that met Sony’s other shooter.
Cross views the unfortunate timing of being associated with a similar project’s failure as a stroke of bad luck. “It feels a bit like being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he admitted, “but that’s not something you can take personally.”
Reflecting on the sheer scale of the project, Cross acknowledged the massive risk Bungie has taken with *Marathon*. This is a studio that turned the equally risky *Destiny* into a decade-long success story—a project Cross also contributed to. He pondered the future of the industry, wondering how much longer studios will be able to fund unproven IPs for hundreds of millions of dollars over such lengthy development periods.
Cross spent six years on *Marathon*, witnessing the team grow from a small group of 12 to hundreds of developers. Given the massive labor costs inherent to such growth, industry estimates suggest Bungie has invested well into the nine-figure range for its production.
“It’s not always easy to keep in mind that this is a product being funded daily, and every day that passes without a release is a day you’re falling further into the red,” Cross noted. “The studio isn’t generating revenue from it yet, which makes the pressure to avoid risks even higher when you’re trying to channel creative energy.”
Source: gamesradar.com
