Bungie developers are refusing to explain a visual phenomenon in the upcoming title Marathon where lobsters in the Dire Marsh map change color depending on a player's selected Runner Shell.
During a recent interview, the studio's leadership declined to provide clarity on the discrepancy. "We do not comment on the lobsters," principal producer Emanuel Rosu said.
Principal marketing manager Nick Clifford also avoided the topic, noting that the phenomenon caught him by surprise. The color shifts—blue, red, and green—align with specific player classes: Assassin, Triage, and Destroyer.
Clues in the code
Players first identified the anomaly during the Marathon server slam in February. Observations from players on X, such as @AkiAndFam, suggest the game tracks shell data to determine individual player perception.
Some community members believe the color coding links to an in-game mural depicting a ritual involving three humanoid figures. The colors in the mural directly match the blue, red, and green lobsters found in the environment.
While the phenomenon has become a meme in the official Discord, developers suggest the feature may serve a functional purpose. The mechanic mirrors certain raid elements in Bungie's Destiny 2, where players must communicate visual cues that only certain members can see.
Narratively, the visual discrepancy fits the game's themes of fractured identity. Runners in Marathon are digitized consciousnesses inhabiting bio-synthetic shells, and trailers suggest that repeated transfers lead to memory degradation.
Clifford noted that these small, unexpected details help balance the game's otherwise harsh atmosphere. "Finding those moments with the pink cat or the lobsters, that humor helps balance things out," he said.
