Marathon Gameplay Reveal Confirms Release Date

Bungie, the renowned developer behind Destiny and Halo, has officially unveiled the release date for their much-anticipated first-person extraction shooter, Marathon, during a gameplay reveal showcase. Dive in to discover what the game has in store and details about the upcoming Marathon Closed Alpha Playtest.

Marathon Coming on September 23

Returning to Tau Ceti

On April 13, Bungie hosted a gameplay reveal event for Marathon, their forthcoming title set in the iconic Tau Ceti universe. This game diverges significantly from its predecessors by embracing a multiplayer format where six teams, each comprising three players, vie against one another and AI-controlled adversaries to gather loot and execute successful extractions.

This marks a notable shift from the narrative-driven, single-player focus of the original trilogy, which began with Marathon in 1994, followed by Marathon 2: Durandal in 1995, and concluded with Marathon Infinity in 1996.

In a detailed post on the PlayStation blog dated April 12, Bungie's developers outlined what players can anticipate from Marathon. Despite the pivot to a multiplayer-centric design, Marathon's Narrative Leader, Jonathan Goff, emphasized maintaining the rich storytelling essence that has been a hallmark of Bungie's games. Goff remarked, "The interweaving of narratives, events, and characters in the original trilogy delivered a world of discovery, wonder, and misdirection." He further elaborated, "Our aim with Marathon is not merely to tell a story, but to craft worlds where stories naturally unfold."

Making Marathon a "Story Engine"

During the reveal stream, viewers noted Marathon's emphasis on in-game economics, with every item in a player's inventory carrying a sell price and clear indicators for what can be extracted from a map. However, Bungie clarified that accumulating wealth isn't the sole focus of the game.

The developers envision Marathon as a "story engine," where even failed missions can lead to memorable encounters and lasting narratives. In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Marathon Game Director Joe Ziegler discussed their approach, stating, "What we're trying to do is say, 'how do you go on adventures and then feel that survival challenge, that survival story that you're making?' Some of the best survival stories and moments I've had in gaming are actually failures or unexpected events." Ziegler underscored that success in Marathon isn't just about survival but about crafting a compelling story from each run.

Working With Fans and Creators

Throughout Marathon's development, Bungie has actively engaged with fans and content creators. From the game's inception, players have been involved in testing early prototypes, offering valuable feedback that has shaped the game's direction.

Feedback highlighted issues such as maps feeling unfair and unpredictable due to camping and pre-empted loot grabs. Responding to this, Ziegler explained, "After hearing this feedback, we moved to the design we have today, where each match is a fresh start for everyone. This consistent starting point allows you and your teammates to strategize better before each run, then race enemy teams to claim the loot you’re after."

Marathon Closed Alpha Playtest

Bungie is set to launch a closed alpha playtest for Marathon, running from April 23 to May 4. Participation is limited to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

The closed alpha will introduce four distinct Runners for players to experiment with: Blackbird, reminiscent of Destiny 2's Warlock; Void, equipped with tactical invisibility; Locus, featuring a tactical shield; and Glitch, noted for exceptional mobility. Three maps will be available, including Perimeter, a woodland setting for five crews (15 players), and Dire Marsh, a more open map for six crews (18 players).

To join the playtest, interested players should visit Marathon's official Discord server, navigate to the alpha-access channel, and use the "/alpha" command to sign up. Invitations are not guaranteed, as this marks the game's first public outing.

No further playtests have been announced for regions beyond the U.S. and Canada. Marathon is slated for release on September 23, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned to our site for the latest updates on Marathon!