On Saturday, Bungie treated fans to a livestream reveal of their highly anticipated extraction shooter, Marathon. Initially announced in May 2023, the studio has kept a low profile about the game ever since. However, with the game’s release date set for September 23, Bungie has finally started to shine a light on what players can expect from Marathon.
The event kicked off with a brief introduction accompanied by a captivating trailer. This was followed by developers diving into the finer details of the game. A longer trailer narrated by Ben Starr, known for his work in Final Fantasy 16 and Balatro, further explained the mechanics and storyline of Marathon.
In Marathon, players take control of Runners, bio-cybernetic mercenaries that serve as the player’s avatar. Groups of three descend onto various maps set in the colony of Tau Ceti IV. Once on the ground, players will scour the environment for loot and complete contracts on behalf of their factions. In this high-stakes setting, players can also clash with others, stealing loot and battling for survival. Successfully extracting from Tau Ceti IV means a player keeps all the gear they’ve amassed; however, getting taken down means losing everything, even items brought into the lobby.
The event wrapped up with a mesmerizing short film by Alberto Mielgo, the acclaimed creator who won an Oscar in 2022 for “The Windshield Wiper.” His work has graced renowned projects like Love, Death & Robots and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Through this fascinating film, viewers got a glimpse into the lives of the Runners, filled with intense scenes reminiscent of the iconic Voight-Kampff test from Blade Runner.
Marathon will be available on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, marking an inclusive release despite Bungie being acquired by Sony in early 2022. Players eager to jump into the action can register for the Marathon alpha test, launching on April 23.
While the livestream focused on gameplay and world-building, it did skirt around one key detail: the game’s price. Nonetheless, Bungie has communicated to Polygon that Marathon will feature an upfront cost and won’t be free-to-play. The exact price is still under wraps, as is the studio’s strategy for any potential post-launch monetization.
