Joe Ziegler Departs Bungie as Marathon Leadership Shifts

Joe Ziegler, the game director for Bungie’s upcoming Marathon, has announced his departure from the studio. His exit follows a period of restructuring at the Sony-owned developer, which included a round of layoffs at the end of June that affected both the Destiny and Marathon development teams. Ziegler, who joined Bungie at the end of 2022 after a 12-year tenure at Riot Games, confirmed he is moving on to a new opportunity.

New Leadership for Marathon Development

Following Ziegler’s departure, Bungie has appointed Del Chafe III as the new game director for Marathon. Chafe III previously served as the assistant game director on the project. He will lead the development team alongside creative director Julia Nardin. According to Ziegler’s public statement, both Chafe III and Nardin have been operating in significant leadership capacities and are prepared to guide the project into its next phase.

Ziegler expressed confidence in the transition, stating he is “proud of them” and eager to see them continue the work on the “dark and terrifying space survival” world established by the team. While Ziegler noted he would announce his next role soon, he emphasized that the development mission for Marathon remains ongoing.

Bungie’s Recent Organizational Changes

The leadership change occurs during a period of volatility for the studio. At the end of June, Bungie implemented a series of layoffs. These organizational shifts have impacted the studio’s projects, including Destiny and Marathon.

Ziegler is the second individual to vacate the game director role on Marathon. His predecessor, Christopher Barrett, was dismissed from the studio following misconduct allegations. Earlier this month, it was reported that Barrett reached a settlement regarding his departure from Bungie and Sony.

Project Status and Industry Context

Marathon is a project at Bungie. The game is a space survival frontier.

Key Details of the Transition

• Outgoing Director: Joe Ziegler, formerly of Riot Games.
• Incoming Leadership: Del Chafe III (Game Director) and Julia Nardin (Creative Director).
• Studio Context: Bungie is a Sony-owned studio.
• Project Status: Despite leadership turnover, the studio has maintained that development on Marathon continues.