Marathon - Release Date, Price, And Everything We Know About Bungie's Extraction Shooter

Initially, Bungie gained recognition in the gaming world through games like Halo: Combat Evolved and Oni; however, its significant video game franchise started with Marathon, an extensive sci-fi epic initially launched for Mac computers. In numerous aspects, Marathon was visionary due to its intricate lore, pioneering gameplay mechanics, and concepts that would influence Bungie’s Halo and Destiny creations. After a long period of inactivity, Marathon will be reintroduced later this year, featuring a multiplayer-oriented extraction shooter design that blends Bungie’s distinctive gunplay with a lively art style.

Prior to its release in September, we’ve compiled a comprehensive overview of the game, and you can now explore it to learn about Marathon’s development so far.

When will Marathon be released?

Mark your calendars for September 23, 2025! That’s when I, an eager fan, will finally get to play Marathon after a two-year wait since its initial reveal by Bungie. It’s important to note that the studio has experienced significant changes since then; a restructuring that led to the unfortunate layoff of 220 employees in 2024. The director of the original Marathon, Chris Barrett, was reportedly dismissed due to inappropriate conduct, a claim he contests as he’s currently suing both Sony and Bungie over the matter. Exciting times ahead!

Marathon preorders

The preorders for Marathon, both physical and digital versions, haven’t been made available yet. We’ll keep you posted as soon as they become live. It seems that potential preorder bonuses for Marathon may have already been revealed, according to data mining enthusiasts who claim that exclusive Marathon-themed skins for the Guardian in Destiny 2 could be offered as an incentive.

Marathon platforms

2022 saw Sony purchasing Bungie for more than $3.5 billion, but don’t expect the upcoming game “Marathon” to be exclusive to PlayStation. Instead, it will be released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. This release will support cross-play and cross-save functions across all platforms. Additionally, Bungie has confirmed that players on PC and Xbox won’t require a PlayStation Network account to enjoy “Marathon.

Is Marathon free-to-play?

Unlike most games in the live-service genre, Marathon won’t be free to play. Bungie hasn’t disclosed its pricing yet, but they’ve made it clear that it won’t be a high-priced game at launch. There are whispers that Marathon might cost $40 when it debuts, the same price as Sony’s Concord, which had a rocky start.

Marathon Alpha

The initial closed alpha testing for Marathon is set to start in April 2025. If you’re eager to give it a spin, consider joining the official Marathon Discord server, where you might have an opportunity to receive early access to this pre-release version of the game. Multiple playtesting sessions will be held prior to the game’s scheduled launch in September, giving you plenty of chances to try it out beforehand.

Marathon storyline

Marathon’s lore matches Destiny in depth and richness. Originating from 1994 to 1996 as an exclusive series for Apple Macintosh desktops, the narrative spans space exploration, civil conflict, menacing alien invasions, immortal cyborg warriors, and the innovative idea of utilizing a Martian moon hollowed out for interplanetary resource transportation.

The narrative of the Marathon series has been kept alive and passed down among fans for many years. Even though you won’t require prior knowledge when the new game is released, Bungie mentions that they’ll include hints and tributes to the original trilogy that longtime followers will recognize.

A gigantic derelict spaceship orbits near an abandoned colony on Tau Ceti IV. The 30,000 inhabitants who once inhabited this distant world have vanished without explanation. Peculiar transmissions suggest ancient technology, dormant artificial intelligence, and hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. You are an explorer, embarking on a perilous journey into the unknown, seeking glory… and notoriety. Who among you will leave their mark across the cosmos?

In the latest broadcast, Bungie unveiled some additional information about the game. Initially, it’s set in the year 2893, and players will assume the role of a runner, a synthetic human who works for various factions while searching the planet for precious artifacts. As stated in the revised summary, your goal is to survive, and whatever you gather can be kept for future missions on Tau Ceti IV or, if you’re daring enough, an expedition to the abandoned Marathon ship that floats above.

Additionally, we understand that Marathon’s narrative will be enriched by a seasonal approach to storytelling, where each segment of the story unfolds over a period of three months.

Marathon gameplay

Winning in Marathon can also be achieved through several different methods, and Bungie says that it wants to make these elements as accessible as possible in this extraction shooter.

Barrett clarified that one of the methods they are employing is by simplifying and clarifying the essential aspects of survival and resource gathering in a way that’s easy for players to grasp. The aim is to enable individuals to quickly comprehend basics such as healing, oxygen management, or organizing their equipment. By making these fundamentals intuitive, there’s more opportunity for strategic thinking and creative expression. Essentially, our goal is to provide the enjoyable elements and imaginative setting, not burden players with mundane tasks and tedium.

In typical fashion for this type of game, Marathon players should be prepared to encounter tough opposition when they venture out into the field. Teams of three will engage in combat with each other as well as powerful non-player characters in the wild. It’s important to note that if a player dies, all the loot gathered during their expedition will be lost.

During his hands-on review of Marathon, TopMob’s Tamoor Hussain noted that the gameplay is outstanding, however, the overall experience may need improvement.

Hussain remarked that, following nearly eight hours of gameplay against developers, content creators, and journalists at Bungie’s Bellevue studio, he was eager to play more of their intense PvPvE multiplayer title. However, he couldn’t ignore the concerns he had about the overall experience hidden within its addictive gameplay mechanics. In simpler terms, he expressed his worry that Marathon could debut as a strong multiplayer shooter with great potential but lacking in content. In the ruthless landscape of multiplayer games, this could pose a significant challenge.

One potential rephrasing of the given text is: A challenging aspect of Marathon could be its seasonal structure, since players can accumulate a large inventory through successful extractions, but each new season will cause all Runners to start from scratch again. The seasonal resets introduce fresh zones, weapons, events, and narratives, however, the fact that your gear is wiped might prove difficult for some players to accept.

Marathon Runners

In simple terms, Marathon is an intense multiplayer game developed by Bungie. You can either play alone or team up with two others. As a player, you’ll traverse the wild landscapes of Tau Ceti IV, competing for survival, wealth, and reputation in a dynamic world. Expect to encounter hostile situations while out exploring, but due to advancements in cloning technology by 2850, death is merely a transition of your consciousness between bodies, which is common in Runner life. There are six unique classes to pick from, and details on four have been disclosed. Each class comes with a Primary and Tactical ability, as well as two Traits tailored to specific playstyles.

Locus

At the Battle of Marathon, the soldiers were known for swiftly deploying their protective shields and adopting an offensive approach during combat. Similarly, in the game of Loci, players often employ an aggressive strategy that involves strategically using their shields.

Prime ability: Search and Destroy
Tactical ability: Barricade
Trait 1: Thruster
Trait 2: Tactical Sprint

Blackbird

Reconnaissance experts or Blackbird players can aid their team in strategizing for combat by identifying other players and potential hazards through scanning.

Prime ability: Echo Pulse
Tactical ability: Tracker Drone
Trait 1: Interrogation
Trait 2: Stalker Protocol

Glitch

It seems that Bungie has not revealed many specifics about the Glitch class so far, but based on appearances, these characters appear to excel at unsettling enemies and forcing them out from their secret lairs.

Prime ability: Amplify
Tactical ability: Disruptor
Trait 1: Micro jets
Trait 2: Powerslide

Void

Skilled in stealth, Void Runners have the ability to blend into their surroundings using optical camouflage and throw smoke bombs for covert attacks from unseen locations.

Prime ability: Smoke Screen
Tactical ability: Active Camo
Trait 1: Shadow Dive
Trait 2: Shroud

Marathon screenshots

Marathon is a multiplayer-only game

In Marathon, there won’t be a solo player option, but its creator emphasized that multiplayer (PvP) is the core element upon which the game is being constructed. This implies that you can anticipate an engaging narrative and a captivating, immersive world as stated by the game director. The design philosophy behind this game is to allow players to influence the story of the world through their decisions and actions. This approach enables the game developers to control the overall narrative direction while giving players a strong sense of control and impact over the gaming experience.

Bungie is designing an environment where player-generated narratives can unfold across a dynamic world brimming with continuous and changing zones. This could involve players encountering each other in skirmishes for shared loot, or dramatic rescue missions while battling AI-controlled adversaries. Notably, the stream broadcast revealed that players will have the option to disable squad autofill and take on the role of a lone adventurer, should they be ready for the task.

As reported by the developer, they’re also brainstorming concepts that will result in noticeable modifications throughout the game environment. A case in point is the possibility for a team to stumble upon a concealed artifact that reveals a fresh section of the map accessible to all players for exploration, with such findings being up for grabs during each season of Marathon.

Is Marathon a sequel to the original trilogy?

It’s no surprise that Bungie is providing an ambiguous response about where Marathon fits into its established timeline. As Game Director Christopher Barrett puts it, the game isn’t a direct sequel to the original series, but rather something that undeniably fits within the same universe.

2025-04-14 16:10

Marathon – Release Date, Price, And Everything We Know About Bungie’s Extraction Shooter