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The enigma of the deserted colony on Tau Ceti IV and the renowned Marathon spacecraft takes center stage as Bungie revisits this realm decades after the iconic Marathon trilogy. The developers are poised to return to Tau Ceti IV in their upcoming team-based extraction shooter, Marathon, slated for release on September 23 for PS5, Steam, and Xbox Series X|S. This article will cover key takeaways from the live Marathon Gameplay Reveal Showcase. A complete viewing of the presentation is available here.
Engage in Lethal Contests for Survival
In Marathon, players collaborate in teams of three, venturing into the vestiges of the lost Tau Ceti IV colony. Their quest for potent weaponry and equipment will pit them against AI security forces, unearthly adversaries, and rival Runner squads vying for the same precious resources.
Mortality is intrinsic to this perilous journey; survival is not guaranteed in every expedition. However, successful extractions reward players with scavenged items, fostering progressive empowerment and accumulation of resources across multiple engagements.
A significant breakthrough is always within reach, just one run away.
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Witness the initial gameplay reveal in the Gameplay Reveal Trailer unveiled during today’s livestream.
Become a Runner: Embrace Cybernetic Shells
Runners constitute the core of Marathon.
These cybernetic mercenaries have relinquished their human forms for biosynthetic shells, trading a portion of their humanity for a semblance of immortality, enabling consciousness transference upon demise.
In Marathon, participants select from a diverse roster of Runners, each possessing distinct skills, attributes, and aesthetics. Beyond their individual flair, Runners serve as a customizable foundation for personalized playstyles. Players can acquire implants and supplementary gear during expeditions to enhance their Runner, tailoring them to their preferred approach.
Kevin Yanes, Senior Design Lead, elucidates, “Glitch, for instance, emphasizes agility, swift movement, and velocity. This style can be amplified by accumulating implants and enhancements that mitigate heat accumulation, prolonging periods of running, jumping, and sliding before cooldown is necessary.”
“Furthermore, rare items like Prestige Cores offer substantial augmentations. Glitch possesses one that elevates her double jump to a triple jump, markedly improving aerial maneuverability.”
Coupled with Bungie’s refined gunplay and an extensive arsenal of lootable weapons, players can adapt their Runner to accommodate numerous diverse playstyles.
Explore further insights into Runners and other aspects in the latest Gameplay Overview Trailer.
Revisiting Tau Ceti: Unveiling Narrative Depths
The original Marathon series, launched in the 1990s, laid the groundwork for immersive storytelling, a characteristic that has become a hallmark of Bungie’s creations.
Narrative Leader Jonathan Goff states, “The intricate weaving of narratives, occurrences, and personas within the original trilogy fostered a realm of discovery, fascination, and strategic ambiguity.”
Players were encouraged to engage with the unfolding narratives at their own discretion, functioning as either detached observers or proactive investigators delving into computer terminal fragments and environmental cues.
Goff continues, “We are embracing this methodology to broaden and explore established facets of the Marathon universe through a fresh perspective—that of Runners. These individuals are entering Tau Ceti IV and the world of Marathon to unearth concealed truths in the aftermath of the original trilogy’s events.”
The intersections and divergences between Marathon and the original games will progressively reveal themselves. Mirroring the classic titles, the realities, falsehoods, and repercussions surrounding Tau Ceti’s enigmas will be entrusted to players for contemplation, deliberation, and debate.
“Ultimately, our ambition with Marathon is not to merely narrate a story, but to construct universes where narratives can and will organically emerge,” Goff concludes.
Immerse yourself in the Tau Ceti environment through the cinematic short film premiered as a concluding revelation in today’s showcase, penned and directed by Alberto Mielgo—award-winning director of “The Witness” and “Jibaro” from Love, Death & Robots.
Participate in Shaping Marathon’s Future: Player Feedback Integration
Bungie has fostered collaboration with players and creators from the nascent phases of Marathon’s development—marking the earliest instance of player inclusion in a Bungie project. Prototypes were tested, and feedback was solicited even before production commenced, directly influencing subsequent iterations.
Early and frequent player input has demonstrably enhanced Marathon across various scales.
Game Director Joe Ziegler notes, “Initially, maps were conceived as more persistent realms allowing players to transition in and out of the same server instance repeatedly. However, feedback indicated that this approach fostered unfair and unpredictable matches, with concerns about spawn camping and pre-emptive looting.”
“Responding to this feedback, we transitioned to the present design. Each match now provides a fresh commencement for all participants. This uniform starting point empowers players and their teams to formulate strategies pre-run and engage in competitive resource acquisition against rival teams,” Ziegler explains.
With Marathon’s unveiling, the next phase involves broadening playtesting, enabling Bungie to pursue concurrent development informed by player insights.
Ziegler expresses, “We are exceedingly enthusiastic about inviting a broader player base into Marathon and soliciting their perspectives. Furthermore, we have an extensive volume of content slated for dissemination in the forthcoming weeks and months. This journey is genuinely just commencing.”
Prospective players are invited to register for an opportunity to participate in this month’s Closed Alpha Test by joining the community Discord.
Marathon is scheduled for launch on September 23, accessible on PS5, Steam, and Xbox Series X|S.