Following Bungie's recent update on Marathon's PvE gameplay and the departure of General Manager Scott Taylor after 20 years, Game Director Joe Ziegler has also announced his exit from the studio. Ziegler's last day at Bungie is July 17, 2026.

While the reasons for Ziegler's departure are not specified, it follows recent significant layoffs at the studio announced by Sony. Ziegler expressed pride in his team and wished success to his successors.

Del Chaffe III, who has served as Assistant Game Director for Marathon since 2024, will take over as Game Director. He will work alongside Creative Director Julia Nardin to guide the game forward. Ziegler stated he is moving on to "something new, somewhere else."