Bungie has officially re-revealed its highly anticipated extraction shooter, Marathon, during a livestream event held on Saturday. First introduced to fans in May 2023, Bungie has kept details about the game relatively under wraps. However, as the studio prepares for the Marathon release date on September 23, they are now revealing a wealth of information about this exciting new title.
The livestream kicked off with a dynamic introduction and an eye-catching trailer, which set the stage for the game’s unique premise. Following the trailer, developers from Bungie engaged in an in-depth discussion about Marathon, explaining its mechanics and gameplay features. A longer trailer, narrated by Ben Starr—known for his work on Final Fantasy 16 and Balatro—provided players with insight into how the game operates.
In Marathon, players assume the role of a Runner, a bio-cybernetic mercenary. Teams of three will explore diverse maps on the colony of Tau Ceti IV. The gameplay revolves around searching the environment for loot and completing contracts for their respective factions. Players will also encounter others in the game, allowing for thrilling encounters where they can eliminate opponents and steal their loot.
Successful extraction from Tau Ceti IV means players can keep all the gear they collect during their missions. However, players should be cautious; dying in the game results in losing everything in their inventory, including items brought into the lobby.
The event concluded with a captivating short film set within the Marathon universe, crafted by Alberto Mielgo, the 2022 Oscar winner for Best Animated Short Film for The Windshield Wiper. Mielgo, who has also contributed to projects like Love, Death & Robots and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, showcased the intense life of the Runners, featuring their bodies being shredded by enemies, interspersed with visuals reminiscent of the iconic Voight-Kampff test from Blade Runner.
Marathon is set to launch on multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, despite Bungie's acquisition by Sony in early 2022. Players eager to get their hands on the game can sign up for the Marathon alpha test, which is slated to begin on April 23.
While the studio did not disclose specific pricing details during the livestream, a representative from Bungie clarified to Polygon that Marathon will not be a free-to-play title and will require an upfront cost. However, the exact price point and potential post-launch monetization strategies remain unclear.
For further information, readers can explore Polygon’s Marathon preview or check out our Q&A with Bungie for more comprehensive insights.
Disclosure: This article is based on a Marathon preview event held at Bungie’s headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. Bungie provided Polygon’s travel and accommodations for the event. Additional details about Polygon’s ethics policy can be found here.
