Bungie, the acclaimed developer behind Destiny and Halo, has unveiled the release date for their highly anticipated game, Marathon, during a thrilling gameplay reveal showcase. Dive into the details of what you can expect from the game and learn about the upcoming Closed Alpha Playtest.
Marathon Coming on September 23
Returning to Tau Ceti
On April 13, Bungie hosted a gameplay reveal showcase for their upcoming first-person extraction shooter, Marathon. Set in the iconic Tau Ceti universe, the game shifts focus to multiplayer dynamics, where six teams of three players battle against each other and AI-controlled foes to gather loot and successfully extract valuable items.
This new direction marks a significant departure from the original Marathon trilogy, which began with the release of the first game in 1994, followed by Marathon 2: Durandal in 1995, and Marathon Infinity in 1996. Unlike these story-driven, single-player experiences, the new Marathon emphasizes multiplayer interaction.
In a PlayStation.blog post dated April 12, Bungie developers shed light on the game's narrative approach. Despite the shift to multiplayer, Marathon Narrative Leader Jonathan Goff emphasized maintaining the experiential storytelling that has been a signature of Bungie's games. "The interweaving of narratives, events, and characters in the original trilogy delivered a world of discovery, wonder, and misdirection," Goff explained. He further elaborated that the goal with Marathon is not just to tell a story but to create worlds where stories naturally unfold.
Making Marathon a "Story Engine"
During the reveal stream, fans noted the game's strong emphasis on in-game economy, with every item in a player's inventory having a sell price and clear indicators of what can be extracted from each map. However, Bungie clarified that accumulating wealth isn't the sole focus of Marathon.
The developers aim for Marathon to function as a "story engine," fostering memorable encounters and lasting experiences even when missions fail or players leave a map empty-handed. Marathon Game Director Joe Ziegler discussed this vision in a recent interview with PC Gamer, 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 weird things that have happened, right?" Ziegler emphasized that success in Marathon isn't solely measured by survivability but by the quality of the stories players create during their runs.
Working With Fans and Creators
Throughout Marathon's development, Bungie has actively collaborated with fans and content creators. From the early stages, even before full production, players have been involved in playtesting prototypes and providing crucial feedback.
One significant piece of feedback was that the maps felt unfair and unpredictable, with issues like spawn camping and pre-empted loot collection. In response, 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 means you and your teammates can better strategize before each run, and then you can race enemy teams to fight for the loot you’re looking for."
Marathon Closed Alpha Playtest
Bungie is set to launch a closed alpha playtest for Marathon from April 23 to May 4. This playtest is region-restricted, available only to residents of the U.S. and Canada.
The closed alpha will introduce four 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, known for exceptional mobility. Participants will also have access to three maps: Perimeter, a woodland setting for five crews (15 players), and Dire Marsh, a more open map accommodating six crews (18 players).
To join the playtest, interested players should visit Marathon's official Discord server, navigate to the alpha-access channel, and enter the "/alpha" command. However, as this is a closed alpha, receiving an invitation is not guaranteed, marking the first public exposure of the game.
No further playtest announcements have been made for regions beyond the U.S. and Canada. Marathon is slated for release on September 23, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. For the latest updates and more information on Marathon, be sure to check out our comprehensive coverage below!
