Kinda Funny Games Daily – Marathon Launches March for $40

Episode Date: December 15, 2025

Hosts: Blessing Adeoye Jr. & Snowbike Mike

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of Kinda Funny Games Daily breaks major news in the video games industry, with the show’s headline reveal: BUNGiE’s highly anticipated extraction shooter, Marathon, will launch March 2026 for $40. The hosts also tackle hot rumors, new releases, developer statements, and the shifting sands of the gaming landscape, with trademark wit and honesty. Other major topics include updates on Casey Hudson's Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, Todd Howard’s teases for Fallout’s future, a rumored Alien game, Ubisoft’s acquisition, and more.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gaming & Weekend Catch-up (02:19–08:29)

• Game Fatigue and Reset:
  Both hosts discussed the end-of-year gaming burnout. Mike described his "reset" weekend, catching up on chores and barely playing games—“I need a reset day. I need a reset weekend. So I slept a bunch. I cleaned up the house. I love cleaning...” (04:21, Mike)
• Movies Instead of Games:
  Mike watched Casino for the first time and was blown away by Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci. Blessing dove into some intense cinema, especially the “body horror” film The Substance, and the Indian vampire film Sister Midnight.
  • Blessing: “They do shit with practical effects where I’m like, this is [expletive] insane. I can’t look at my TV right now.” (06:23)
• Gaming Return:
  Blessing streamed Lies of P Overture twice over the weekend, emphasizing playing for personal enjoyment again rather than content pressure.

2. Housekeeping & Programming Notes (08:29–10:51)

• Announcements of upcoming My Hero Academia and Pokémon content, Greg’s co-host Bruce Straley’s return, and a full schedule of shows including a GameCast Expedition 33 review and a screencast interview with Netflix’s Alex Wu.

3. Casey Hudson Insists Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic Will Launch Before 2030 (13:13–18:28)

• Background:
  After the Game Awards debut of Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, skepticism arose regarding the release date (possibly 2030 or later), given the studio only recently formed.
• Casey Hudson’s Promise:
  “Don’t worry about the not till 2030 rumors... Game will be out before then. I’m not getting any younger.” (13:27, Blessing reads Casey Hudson tweet)
• Host Reactions:
  Both express heavy skepticism:
  • Blessing: “That’s just speaking to how AAA video game development has gone... games are taking longer and longer... I guarantee you, as he tweets this, whatever teams he’s working with are probably like, ‘Casey, what are you doing?’” (14:23)
  • Mike: “We’re still building this studio. ...Will they do it? We’ll see...” (13:37)
  • Discussion on whether a smaller scope would satisfy fans’ KOTOR ambitions, or inevitably disappoint.
  • Comparisons to Death Stranding’s relatively fast turnaround (2016-2019) highlight how rare quick AAA cycles are now.

4. Todd Howard Teases Fallout’s Future: “It’s the Franchise We’re Doing the Most In” (18:30–26:52)

• Current Fallout Activity:
  Despite focus on Elder Scrolls 6, Howard insists the most work is happening in the Fallout universe—TV series, remasters, and probably planning for Fallout 5.
• Shadow Drops & Remasters:
  Todd Howard hints at the popularity and possible repeat of Oblivion Remastered-style shadow drop launches for Fallout 3 or others. Both hosts expect a Fallout 3 Remaster to land suddenly, and Blessing notes, “That Shadow Drop is going to hit like crack.” (23:55)
• Who Should Make Fallout Next?
  Extended speculation if Obsidian or inXile could work on a new Fallout, given the popularity of New Vegas and Xbox's shared ownership.

5. BREAKING NEWS – Marathon Launches March 2026 for $40 (33:12–43:02)

Details & Initial Reactions

• Marathon launch announcement caught both hosts by surprise:
  • Blessing reads from PlayStation Blog: “Marathon releases in March 2026 at the target price of $39.99...” (33:14)
  • Mike: “I’m 100% caught off guard by this announcement… I thought we would hold Marathon for quite some time...” (34:19)
• The new ViDoc, longer than 20 minutes, promises visual leaps, proximity chat, solo play, and new runner shells.

Community Feedback and the State of Extraction Shooters

• Arc Raiders Influence:
  Mike assesses that Arc Raiders mainstreamed the extraction shooter genre, making the market more receptive for Marathon but also raising the bar for quality:
  • “Arc Raiders found this perfect balance … that was welcoming to new players… that’s the positive for Bungie and Marathon.” (35:49)
• Beta Concerns:
  Multiple super chats and both hosts cite issues with the last Marathon beta, including lack of proximity chat, unbalanced PvP, and underwhelming PvE content compared to Arc Raiders.
  • “It felt more like we're dropping in and it was more battle royale… I think that was another big turn-off…” (39:09, Mike)

Skepticism Over Timing & Market Position

• Scrutiny over release date (“March”, no specific day), pricing strategy, and whether they’re “sending this game out to die.”
  • Blessing: “Do you think they're sending this game out to die?” (42:46)
  • Mike: “No developer wants their game to die, but...” – expressing concern, hopes for more betas.

6. Rumor: New Alien Game Described as “Shadow of the Tomb Raider with Xenomorphs” (44:06–47:34)

• Eidos Montreal Project:
  Insider leaks put the Guardians of the Galaxy and Tomb Raider studio on a new single-player Alien title, focused on dynamic AI, stealth, and environmental puzzles.
  • Blessing: “I think this is cool. I think this is awesome.” (45:41)
  • Mike: “Alien game is awesome. This sounds dope... I hope they absolutely deliver on this.” (46:35)
• Positive reception from both, who emphasize the need for smart AI and reference fond memories of Alien: Isolation.

7. Ubisoft Acquires Amazon Games Montreal Team (Rainbow Six Siege Leads Return) (47:43–55:28)

• Deal Details:
  Ubisoft picks up the March of the Giants MOBA team (original Rainbow Six Siege leadership).
• Industry Analysis:
  The move is read both as a talent acquisition and genre gamble:
  • Mike: “There are giants in the MOBA field. It’s very hard to get a piece of that pie…” (50:25)
  • Blessing: Suggests Ubisoft wants both the team’s expertise and a shot in competitive live-service gaming.

8. Arc Raiders Cold Snap Update (56:18–59:13)

• Adds new “snowfall” map condition, new event, quests, and a seasonal “Raider deck” battle pass.
• Mike is notably excited:
  “I love when they add snow to all maps… shout out to Embark Studios who continues to deliver with this…” (57:20)
• Blessing summarizes gameplay changes and cold/frostbite mechanics (58:39).

9. Wii News – Quickfire Headlines (59:22–61:07)

• Katamari creator Keita Takahashi pens sad post about disappointing sales of To a T—Blessing and Mike urge listeners to check it out.
• Divinity Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition free updates across platforms.
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Heart of Chernobyl gets story update.
• Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2’s winter update.
• Fallout TV second season drops first episode early (week-to-week, not a binge release).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “That’s a statement. Do I believe that? No.”
  — Mike, on Casey Hudson’s promise for a pre-2030 game (13:33)
• “You got to look at the lights on your way out. You got to put somebody over. You know, you got to.”
  — Blessing, on John Cena’s pro wrestling retirement (09:37)
• “That Shadow Drop is going to hit like crack.”
  — Blessing, on a possible Fallout 3 Remaster release (23:55)
• "Arc Raiders has definitely made the extraction shooter more mainstream, more popular... the craze is still going on..."
  — Mike, on the genre landscape for Marathon (35:49)
• “Do you think they're sending this game out to die?”
  — Blessing, on the March release, Marathon (42:46)
• “Alien game is awesome. This sounds dope… I hope they absolutely deliver on this.”
  — Mike, on the rumored Alien game from Eidos Montreal (46:35)
• “There are giants in the MOBA field, and it’s very hard to get a piece of the pie... but there are opportunities there to grab a small piece and find success.”
  — Mike, on Ubisoft’s new MOBA bet (50:18)
• "I love when they add snow to all maps." — Mike, getting hyped for Arc Raiders’ Cold Snap, (57:20)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Catch-up & Weekend Chat: 02:19–08:29
• Housekeeping: 08:29–10:51
• Casey Hudson/Fate of the Old Republic: 13:13–18:28
• Fallout Update, Todd Howard: 18:30–26:52
• Marathon Release BREAKING NEWS: 33:12–43:02
• Alien Game Rumor: 44:06–47:34
• Ubisoft x Amazon Games Montreal: 47:43–55:28
• Arc Raiders Cold Snap: 56:18–59:13
• Wii News Headlines: 59:22–61:07

Closing Notes

Tone:
Conversational, candid, and occasionally irreverent—hosts balance skepticism and excitement, with a strong focus on audience questions and community engagement.

For Fans & New Listeners:
The episode is a newsy, rapid-fire rundown of the day’s biggest stories, underpinned by authentic, often skeptical analysis. The Marathon announcement dominates, but the show maintains its variety, humor, and transparency. Listeners get a behind-the-scenes look at hype, doubt, and the realities of AAA game development.

If you want full details, in-depth opinions, or the hosts’ own blend of "enthusiastic realism," this is a must-listen episode for staying current on gaming's ever-changing news cycle!