Bungie's Highly Anticipated Sci-Fi Extraction Shooter, Marathon, Receives a Developer Update After a Year of Silence
Marathon's Release Remains Distant, but 2025 Playtests are Planned
Over a year after its initial reveal at the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Bungie finally offered a much-needed update on their upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter, Marathon. The announcement, which generated considerable excitement among fans both old and new, was followed by an extended period of silence. This silence has now been broken by Marathon Game Director Joe Ziegler.
Ziegler addressed community concerns directly, clarifying the game's nature as a Bungie-developed extraction shooter. While gameplay footage remains unavailable, he confirmed the project is progressing as planned and undergoing significant revisions based on extensive player testing. He also teased a class-based system featuring customizable "Runners" with unique abilities, showcasing two examples: "Thief" and "Stealth," hinting at their respective playstyles.
The most concrete news is the promise of expanded playtests in 2025. While limited internal testing may have occurred previously, Ziegler emphasized a significant increase in player participation for upcoming milestones, inviting fans to join. He encouraged players to wishlist the game on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation to express interest and facilitate future communication.
A Look at Bungie's Marathon
Marathon represents a reimagining of Bungie's classic 1990s trilogy, marking their most significant departure from the Destiny franchise in over a decade. While not a direct sequel, the game is set within the same universe and aims to capture the essence of a classic Bungie experience. It's designed to be accessible to newcomers while including nods and references for long-time fans.
The game, set on Tau Ceti IV, casts players as Runners competing for survival, wealth, and glory. Players can team up in squads of three or play solo, scavenging for alien artifacts and valuable loot while potentially facing rival crews or perilous last-minute extractions.
Initially conceived as a purely PvP experience without a single-player campaign, the game's direction under Ziegler may involve some adjustments. While details are scarce, he hinted at additions designed to modernize the game and introduce a new narrative and world with ongoing updates.
Marathon is confirmed for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with cross-play and cross-save functionality.
Navigating Development Challenges
In March 2024, the original project lead, Chris Barrett, departed from Bungie following allegations of misconduct, as reported by Bloomberg. This led to Joe Ziegler taking the reins as game director. Furthermore, significant layoffs impacting approximately 17% of Bungie's workforce undoubtedly influenced the development timeline.
Despite the setbacks, the announcement of 2025 playtests offers a degree of reassurance to fans eager for further information and a potential release date. The developer update suggests that, despite challenges, development is progressing.
