# Bungie’s New Approach to Storytelling in Marathon
Once celebrated for its storytelling prowess, Bungie’s narrative strategy has faced criticism, especially concerning the Destiny franchise. A significant portion of its lore is no longer accessible due to the “vaulting” of previous expansions, leading to frustration among players. However, with the release of Marathon, Bungie appears to be redefining its storytelling approach.
## Accessibility and Continuous Engagement
In a recent interview with GamesRadar, Julia Nardin, the creative director of Marathon, emphasized the studio’s commitment to accessibility. “It’s important that players can jump into Marathon at any time,” she stated. This philosophy aims to allow players to delve into the mysteries of Tau Ceti’s past while simultaneously engaging with its present narrative. Nardin stressed the vision of making each season a new entry point for newcomers, ensuring they can grasp the ongoing story regardless of prior experience. This contrasts sharply with Destiny’s approach, where vast segments of the story are rendered inaccessible due to vaulting.
## A Flexible Narrative Framework
Despite the ongoing discourse regarding Marathon’s longevity, Nardin assured that there are substantial plans for the game’s storyline over the next few years. However, she mentioned a crucial caveat: while they have a roadmap, the narrative is not entirely “locked in.” This flexibility allows for player feedback and community engagement to shape the ongoing story, a feature that Nardin describes as essential to the experience of a live service game.
## Community-Driven Storytelling
Marathon’s unique approach to community involvement has already manifested itself through gameplay mechanics. For instance, the challenging Cryo Archive map, available only on weekends, required players to unlock it via an alternate reality game (ARG). This strategy fosters a sense of involvement and challenge, although it raises concerns about accessibility for casual players. Additionally, any narrative elements set in the period before the game’s events remain “locked,” defining the boundaries of player influence on the story’s pre-existing lore.
## Conclusion
Bungie’s evolution in narrative design with Marathon signals a shift towards a more inclusive and player-centric approach. By prioritizing accessibility and community involvement, Bungie aims to create a sustained connection between players and the game’s unfolding story. As Marathon develops, it will be intriguing to see how well these concepts resonate with both new and longtime players, especially in contrast to the criticisms surrounding Destiny’s narrative methods.
