Bungie has just done something that should make CIG think. Marathon was designed as a PvP-only extraction shooter. Now Bungie is actively experimenting with dedicated PvE content because they recognized that constant PvP pressure—especially for solo and more casual players—was driving people away. Their goal is to appeal to a broader audience by offering PvE alongside PvP. The initial response was remarkable: Steam player numbers briefly tripled after the PvE mode launched and, at least for the following days, remained roughly twice as high as before. Star Citizen should pay attention. For years, many players have argued that unrestricted PvP keeps a much larger PvE-oriented audience away from the game. If even a hardcore PvP extraction shooter sees PvE as a growth opportunity, dedicated PvE servers deserve serious consideration. Before anyone claims that PvE “splits the player base of Star Citizen”: Bungie clearly believes expanding the audience is more important than forcing everyone into the same experience. Sources: * Bungie – Launch Learning: What’s Next for Marathon: https://www.bungie.net/7/en/News/Article/launch_learning_whatsnext * Insider Gaming – Marathon PvE Mode Triples Player Count: https://insider-gaming.com/marathon-pve-mode-triple-games-player-count/