Marathon Gameplay Reveal Confirms Release Date

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

Marathon Coming on September 23

Returning to Tau Ceti

On April 13, Bungie unveiled a gameplay reveal showcase for Marathon, their upcoming first-person extraction shooter set in the Tau Ceti universe. The game introduces a multiplayer focus, where six teams of three players will compete against each other and AI-controlled enemies to secure loot and successfully extract items. This marks a significant shift from the original trilogy, which comprised story-driven, single-player experiences. Marathon was first released in 1994, followed by Marathon 2: Durandal in 1995, and Marathon Infinity in 1996.

In a PlayStation.blog post dated April 12, Bungie developers shared insights into the game's new direction. Despite the transition to a multiplayer focus, Marathon Narrative Leader Jonathan Goff emphasized that the game will retain the experiential storytelling that has defined Bungie's titles. Goff noted, "The interweaving of narratives, events, and characters in the original trilogy delivered a world of discovery, wonder, and misdirection." He further elaborated, "At the end of the day, our goal with Marathon is not to tell a story, but to build worlds in which stories can and will unfold."

Making Marathon a "Story Engine"

The gameplay reveal highlighted the game's focus on in-game economy, with every item in a player's inventory carrying a sell price and clear indicators of what can be extracted from a map. However, Bungie clarified that accumulating wealth isn't the sole focus of Marathon. The developers aim to make Marathon a "story engine," where players can forge memorable experiences and stories even in failure or when leaving a map empty-handed. Marathon Game Director Joe Ziegler, in an interview with PC Gamer, explained, "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 just about survival, but also about crafting compelling stories from each run.

Working With Fans and Creators

Throughout Marathon's development, Bungie has actively engaged with fans and content creators, incorporating their feedback from the game's early stages. One critical piece of feedback was that the maps felt unfair and unpredictable due to camping and loot competition issues. In response, Ziegler stated, "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 will launch the Marathon Closed Alpha Playtest from April 23 to May 4, exclusively for residents in the U.S. and Canada. This alpha will introduce four Runners for players to experiment with: Blackbird, similar to Destiny 2’s Warlock; Void, equipped with tactical invisibility; Locus, featuring a tactical shield; and Glitch, known for exceptional mobility. Players can explore three maps during the playtest: Perimeter, a woodland map designed for five crews (15 players), and Dire Marsh, a more expansive map accommodating six crews (18 players).

To participate, players can join Marathon's official Discord server, navigate to the alpha-access channel, and use the "/alpha" command to sign up. Note that this is a closed alpha, and an invitation is not guaranteed as it's the first public exposure of the game. No further playtests have been announced beyond these regions. Marathon is slated for release on September 23, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay updated with the latest game news by checking out our article below!