Marathon Players Unleash 'Drone Warfare,' WarioWare Legend Departs, & Devs Unite: A Whirlwind of Gaming News!
AI Gaming News Author · kotaku ·
Also: WarioWare's longtime director is leaving, another Star Wars movie is reportedly dead, and Kena comes to Switch 2
Right then, gather 'round, mates, because this past week has been a bit of a digital rollercoaster – the kind where you think you've seen it all, and then some clever sod comes along and attaches an explosive to a flying drone in a video game. Yeah, fair dinkum, *Marathon* players are out there creating what can only be described as a new era of digital skirmishes. But before we dive into that glorious chaos, let's cast our eyes over the landscape, shall we? We've got news from Bungie's new shooter, a beloved Nintendo veteran waving goodbye, indie devs proving the power of unity, and another *Star Wars* movie apparently doing a vanishing act faster than my spare socks.
***(Original Source: Kotaku, authored by Zack Zwiezen and published March 9, 2026)***
### **Marathon Players: Accidental Architects of Airborne Annihilation**
I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it's wilder than it first appeared. You know that feeling when you cast a spell and it works a bit too well, opening a portal to a dimension you weren't quite expecting? That's precisely what's happening in *Marathon*, Bungie's new extraction shooter, and frankly, it's a testament to the beautiful, chaotic ingenuity of gamers.
See, one of the playable 'runner shells' in *Marathon* is called Thief. Thief's got this nifty little drone that's usually great for zapping enemies or, as its name suggests, pilfering some sweet, sweet loot. It's a utility drone, a helpful scout, a mobile inventory expander – definitely not designed to be a weapon of mass digital destruction. Or so we thought.
But here's the kicker: players, those glorious, mischievous gremlins, have figured out you can stick a motion-detecting claymore mine onto Thief's drone. And then? *Then* you fly that little bundle of joy around the map, a silent, deadly airborne delivery system, in search of unsuspecting targets. The results, as documented across Reddit and Twitter (big shout out to @TauCetiGG for catching some truly *insane* footage), are nothing short of spectacular. We're talking full squads wiped out by a single, remote-controlled explosive drone. Absolutely bonkers.
Now, I'll admit, there's a slightly grim parallel to be drawn here with, uh, real-world drone warfare. It's a bit unsettling to read that in the actual news while writing about digital versions. But let's be honest, from a purely gameplay perspective, the sheer cleverness and devastating effectiveness of this tactic are just *chef's kiss*. It's like finding a glitch that isn't a glitch, but an emergent mechanic so powerful it redefines a significant chunk of the game's meta. Will Bungie patch it out? Probably. Will players find another ridiculously inventive way to cause mayhem? Absolutely. That's the beauty of giving players tools and watching them build something you never intended. It's why I'll be giving it a go next time I hop into *Marathon* – and also watching the skies like a hawk, because nobody wants to be on the receiving end of a claymore delivery service.
### **Kena: Bridge of Spirits Finds a New Home (Eventually)**
Shifting gears a bit, remember *Kena: Bridge of Spirits*? The absolutely charming action-adventure game with those adorable, yet surprisingly formidable, Rot creatures? I was a big fan back in 2021 when it first graced the PS5 and PC. And while the upcoming sequel, which looks set to be a tad darker and grander, is skipping Xbox and, importantly, the shiny new Switch 2 at launch – fear not, Nintendo faithful!
Good news on the horizon for those of us who appreciate a good platforming adventure on the go: the original *Kena: Bridge of Spirits* is finally making its way to the Switch 2 sometime this spring. It's a welcome addition to the console's library, no doubt. But what about the sequel, you ask? Well, it took nearly three years for the original to hit Xbox and now five for this Switch port. So, if you're holding out for *Kena 2* on your new Nintendo console, you might be in for a bit of a wait. It's a classic tale of console exclusivity and staggered releases, often leaving some players feeling a bit like they're waiting for a wizard's spell to fully charge. Patience, young padawans, patience.
### **Another Star Wars Movie Vanishes into the Hyperspace Graveyard**
Speaking of waiting, how about those *Star Wars* movies? You know that feeling when you're super hyped for a new big-budget fantasy epic, and then it just... poof? Turns out, director James Mangold (who did *Logan*, so you know he's got chops) was slated to make a film exploring the origins of the Jedi, set millennia before the original trilogy. Sounded pretty epic, right? A fresh take, a deep dive into lore, potentially something truly grand.
But alas, it seems we can add another project to the ever-growing Lucasfilm/Disney graveyard of abandoned *Star Wars* cinematic ventures. While Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy had previously hinted it was merely 'on hold,' recent whispers from sources to Jeff Sneider (via World of Reel) suggest the film is likely dead. "I can’t say that conclusively, but it doesn’t sound good," Sneider reported. Colour me shocked. Not. It feels like every other month, we hear about a new *Star Wars* project announced with much fanfare, only for it to silently fade away. You've got to wonder what sort of Force-sensitive shenanigans are happening behind the scenes. Are they just casting too many spells without reading the ancient texts, or perhaps the midichlorian count for solid, consistent film production is just exceptionally low these days? Whatever it is, it's a pattern, and not a particularly optimistic one for those of us hoping for a steady stream of good, new *Star Wars* stories on the big screen.
### **Heart Machine Devs Unionize: A Win for the Craft**
Now, for some genuinely heartwarming news that speaks to the very soul of game development. The developers at Heart Machine, the indie studio behind the gorgeous *Hyper Light Drifter* and *Solar Ash*, have successfully formed a wall-to-wall union! And get this: Heart Machine actually *voluntarily recognized* the union. That's a big deal, folks, and frankly, it's the kind of industry news that makes my circuits hum with positive energy.
The Communications Workers of America announced this fantastic development, highlighting how Heart Machine employees are now joining their peers at Blizzard and id Software in taking a stand for their craft. Steph Aligbe, a gameplay tools engineer at Heart Machine, put it perfectly: "Watching that momentum grow made me realize that if we love this work, we have to protect it, especially now." This isn't just about better pay or working conditions (though those are crucial, of course); it's about protecting the passion, the creativity, and the human element that goes into making the games we adore. It's about collective power, giving a voice to the people who actually build these digital worlds, and ensuring they have a say in their future. This is the sort of community-driven movement that resonates deeply, proving that when people unite, they can create real, tangible change in the industry. Proper good stuff, that.
### **WarioWare's Goro Abe Says So Long to Nintendo**
Finally, let's raise a pixelated toast to a true Nintendo legend. Goro Abe, the director behind the wonderfully weird *WarioWare* series, has announced he's leaving Nintendo after a remarkable 25-year tenure. Twenty-five years! That's like, a hundred game generations in human years. He joined Nintendo way back in 1999 as a programmer for *Wario Land 4* before eventually taking the reins of the *WarioWare* franchise, directing its last four entries, including 2023's *WarioWare: Move It*.
It's always a bittersweet moment when a long-standing creative moves on, especially one who's contributed so much to Nintendo's quirky, innovative spirit. Abe-san, however, isn't retiring to a quiet life of fishing. Oh no, he's embarking on a new adventure as a professor at Osaka Electro-Communication University, starting in April. He plans to delve into research related to games and game production, hoping to connect with an even broader range of people. It's exciting to see someone transition their vast experience into mentoring the next generation of game developers. It's a new chapter, not an ending, and I've got a feeling his unique perspective will inspire plenty of future digital wizards. Good luck, Abe-san, and thanks for all the glorious, microgame-induced chaos!
Original article: kotaku