Importance Score: 15 / 100 🟠
From the acclaimed developers behind Halo and Destiny comes a first look at their highly anticipated new venture: Marathon. This revival of the classic Marathon intellectual property marks Bungie’s entry into the PvPvE extraction shooter genre. Following a teaser nearly two years prior, the PlayStation-owned studio showcased an hour of Marathon gameplay and core game mechanics. The official release date is set for September 23rd, launching on PS5, Xbox Series S / X, and PC, complete with full cross-play and cross-save functionality. Fans eager to get a hands-on experience can anticipate an alpha test slated for later this month, preceding the game’s full launch later this year.
Marathon: Exploring the Sci-Fi Universe and Runner Roles
Marathon is grounded in a science fiction universe set in 2850, taking place within the remnants of Tau Ceti IV. Bungie describes this location as a lost colony, its inhabitants mysteriously vanished. Within this setting, competing factions enlist Runners to salvage valuable resources. Individuals who become Runners relinquish their human forms, adopting biosynthetic shells that grant unique skills and attributes.
Team-Based and Solo Gameplay Dynamics
As a Runner, players will engage in squads of up to three, navigating diverse zones and points of interest. Encounters with rival Runner squads are expected across maps accommodating up to 18 players—or six teams—all vying to secure as much loot as possible and successfully extract. While Marathon is designed to favor crew-based play, featuring contextual pings and shared objectives, solo play is also a viable option, eliminating the necessity of pre-formed teams.
Navigating PvE Threats and Rival Runners
Within Marathon runs, players will encounter security forces, presented as PvE enemies that patrol the environment. Additionally, indigenous creatures pose a threat when traversing the map towards objectives. Runners must strategically decide whether to engage these enemies, risking exposure to rival teams, or to employ evasive tactics in this dynamic PvPvE setting.
Runner Selection and Loadout Customization
The game maps are rich with striking visuals and a variety of weapons, materials, and equipment available for scavenging. Prior to each run, players customize their loadout and choose a Runner that complements their preferred playstyle. The upcoming alpha test, commencing on April 23rd, will feature four selectable Runners, including the stealth-oriented Void character, reminiscent of the Hunter class from Destiny 2 with its invisibility ability.
Runner Abilities: Glitch, Locus, and Blackbird
The Glitch Runner specializes in rapid abilities and, true to its name, can disrupt enemies through glitch mechanics. Players favoring a more aggressive, run-and-gun approach might prefer Locus, equipped with a shield ability and exhibiting similarities to the Titan’s slide-and-shotgun style from Destiny 2. Blackbird, the final Runner available in the alpha test, is designed for reconnaissance and area scanning. While the alpha test will include these four Runners, the full Marathon launch in September will feature a roster of six.
Creator Livestream and Gameplay Preview
During their recent livestream event, Bungie presented a nearly 20-minute highlight reel showcasing gameplay from 40 creators who were invited to experience the game firsthand.
Risk and Reward: Gear and Progression
In Marathon, death results in the loss of acquired gear. However, successful extraction ensures that looted items are retained for future runs, enabling players to accumulate more powerful equipment and advance their progression. Teammates are also able to revive fallen players during missions.
Team Composition and End-Game Content
Bungie has confirmed no restrictions on team compositions, allowing for entire three-person teams to select the same Runner. The game will feature end-game challenges, ranked competitive modes, seasonal narrative content, and community-focused events, among other features.
Cinematic Universe Expansion
Further expanding the Marathon universe, Bungie has produced an original short cinematic. Directed and written by Alberto Mielgo (known for Love, Death, and Robots), this approximately nine-minute short film is anticipated to be closely analyzed by fans for deeper insights into the game’s lore and world.
Navigating a Competitive Shooter Market
While Marathon demonstrates a polished and engaging aesthetic, its success is crucial. It enters a highly competitive market saturated with shooter and live-service games, many of which have struggled for traction recently. Concord, another title from a PlayStation studio, serves as a notable example of a shooter that failed to gain momentum, leading to Sony’s decision to discontinue the game within a month of its launch and subsequently close the studio behind it.
Spectre Divide, a free-to-play shooter drawing comparisons to Valorant, also faced a premature shutdown shortly after its debut, resulting in the closure of its development studio. These prominent failures amplify the pressure on Marathon, especially considering Bungie’s established reputation with Halo and Destiny, along with Sony’s moderated ambitions for the live-service gaming sector.
Alpha Test and Market Positioning
The Marathon alpha test will offer Bungie a platform to demonstrate how their latest title distinguishes itself from competitors and whether it possesses the appeal to attract players from established hero shooters or titles like Call of Duty and Fortnite to the extraction shooter genre popularized by Escape from Tarkov.
Pricing Model and Accessibility
A significant question remains regarding the pricing strategy for Marathon. While confirmed not to be free-to-play, Bungie has yet to disclose specific pricing details. Destiny 2 employs a technically free-to-play model with an optional season pass, but substantial content sections, including raids, dungeons, and story elements, require additional purchases. This approach has presented complexity for new players. Therefore, clarity in Marathon’s pricing structure is anticipated.
Launch Details and Alpha Sign-Up
Marathon is scheduled for release on September 23rd for PS5, Xbox Series S / X, and PC. Interested players can register for the Marathon closed alpha test via Bungie’s official website or their Discord server.