Marathon Release Date Unveiled at Gameplay Showcase

Marathon developer Bungie announced the game's release date during its gameplay reveal showcase. Dive in to discover more about what to expect in the game and how to participate in Marathon's Closed Alpha Playtest.

Marathon Coming on September 23

Returning to Tau Ceti

Destiny and Halo developer Bungie unveiled a gameplay reveal showcase on April 13 for its eagerly awaited first-person extraction shooter, Marathon. The game emphasizes multiplayer strategies where six teams of three players compete against each other and AI-controlled enemies to secure loot and successfully extract items.

This marks a significant shift from the original trilogy of the game. The first Marathon was released in 1994, followed by Marathon 2: Durandal in 1995, and the trilogy concluded with Marathon Infinity in 1996. These were all story-driven, single-player focused games.

In a PlayStation.blog post dated April 12, Bungie developers offered insights into what players can anticipate in Marathon. Despite the pivot to a multiplayer-focused experience, Marathon Narrative Leader Jonathan Goff emphasized that the game will still embrace the experiential storytelling that has defined Bungie games.

Goff stated, "The interweaving of narratives, events, and characters in the original trilogy delivered a world of discovery, wonder, and misdirection." He further added, "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"

During the reveal stream, fans observed a strong emphasis on in-game economics, with every item in the player's inventory having a sell price and clear indications of what can be extracted from a map. However, Bungie clarified that accumulating wealth isn't the sole focus of the game.

The developers aim for Marathon to serve as a "story engine", generating memorable battles and lasting experiences, even if a mission ends in failure or players exit the map empty-handed. Marathon Game Director Joe Ziegler, in a recent interview with PC Gamer, elucidated the game's direction.

He remarked, "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 solely about survival, but about crafting a compelling story from each run.

Working With Fans and Creators

Bungie has actively collaborated with fans and content creators throughout Marathon's development. Even in the early stages, before entering full production, players were invited to test prototypes and provided valuable feedback.

One key piece of feedback was that the maps felt unfair and unpredictable, with issues such as players camping spawns indefinitely or loot being taken before teams could reach it. Ziegler explained, "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 is set to conduct its alpha playtest for Marathon from April 23 to May 4. Participation is limited to residents of the U.S. and Canada due to regional restrictions.

The closed alpha will introduce four Runners for players to experiment with: Blackbird, reminiscent of Destiny 2’s Warlock; Void, equipped with tactical invisibility; Locus, featuring a tactical shield; and Glitch, known for exceptional mobility. Additionally, three maps will be available: Perimeter, a woodland setting for five crews (15 players), and Dire Marsh, a more open environment for six crews (18 players).

To join the playtest, visit Marathon's official Discord server, navigate to the alpha-access channel, and use the "/alpha" command to sign up. Keep in mind that an invitation is not guaranteed as this is the game's first public playtest.

No further playtests have been announced for regions outside the U.S. and Canada. Marathon is slated for release on September 23, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates by checking our related article below!