Decades after the enigmatic events of the ghost colony on Tau Ceti IV and the legendary Marathon ship that sparked it all, Bungie is primed to rekindle this storied universe. They’re doing so with their new team-based extraction shooter, Marathon, scheduled to launch on September 24 for PS5, Steam, and Xbox Series X|S.
Today, let’s dive into some of the standout moments from the Marathon Gameplay Reveal Showcase. If you’re hungry for all the details, catch the full livestream at this link.
In the world of Marathon, players band together in crews of three, scouring the remnants of the missing colony on Tau Ceti IV. The quest? To uncover powerful weapons and gear left behind while fending off AI security, alien creatures, and competing Runner teams eager for their share of the spoils. It’s a world where death is an expected pit stop on your journey—it’s cutthroat out there. However, every triumphant escape bags you the bounty you’ve plundered, empowering your arsenal and expanding your vault with each match. Every run teeters on the brink of that next exhilarating score.
For those itching to see some gameplay, look no further than the Gameplay Reveal Trailer that premiered during today’s livestream.
Central to Marathon’s allure are the Runners—cybernetic warriors who have traded their humanity for biological cyber shells, securing their consciousness beyond death. You’ll have a roster of Runners, each featuring unique abilities, stats, and styles to choose from. While each Runner comes with their own personality, they’re also a blank canvas for customizing your approach. By gathering implants and gear during missions, you can finely tune your Runner to suit how you love to play.
“For instance, Glitch is all about speed—fast movement, agility, and momentum. You can lean into this by stacking speedy mods that keep your energy cool as you blaze through the map,” explains Kevin Yanes, Senior Design Lead. “Then there are the prestigious items like the Prestige Cores. Glitch, for example, can upgrade from a double jump to a triple, offering incredible aerial control.”
Paired with Bungie’s signature shooting mechanics and a rich variety of weapons, customizing your Runner becomes an addictive pursuit.
You’ll find out more details about Runners, and much more, in the brand-new Gameplay Overview Trailer.
The original Marathon series from the 1990s was a masterclass in experiential storytelling, laying the groundwork for future Bungie titles.
“Marathon’s original trilogy presented intricate narratives filled with discoveries, wonders, and surprises,” says Jonathan Goff, the Narrative Leader. “Players could choose how deeply they engaged, whether as passive spectators or as detectives delving into computer terminals and environmental stories.”
“This same spirit is being revived to explore Marathon’s universe through the eyes of Runners, those entering Tau Ceti IV and Marathon’s world to unravel secrets left in the trilogy’s aftermath,” adds Goff.
Marathon weaves and sometimes clashes with its predecessors, telling its tale over time. Keeping with tradition, it places the truths and whims of Tau Ceti’s enigmas firmly in the players’ grasp.
“Our ultimate aim with Marathon isn’t to recite a narrative but to craft worlds where stories thrive and evolve,” says Goff.
Wrap up the reveal experience by diving into the cinematic short unveiled as today’s grand finale, a creation of the award-winning Alberto Mielgo, known for “The Witness” and “Jibaro” tales in Love, Death & Robots.
From the get-go of Marathon’s development, Bungie has actively collaborated with players and creators, a first for the studio—to involve players so early on. Even pre-production stages saw players testing prototypes, providing transformative insights for future builds.
“Early feedback shaped multitude aspects of Marathon,” shares Game Director Joe Ziegler. “For instance, our first playtests had maps that stayed persistent. You could drop back into the same instance, which caused frustrations like unfair gameplay or missing loot.”
“Listening to feedback, we adapted a fresh-start format for each match, leveling the playing field and allowing teams to strategize before diving in,” explains Ziegler.
Now that Marathon has been unveiled, larger playtests loom on the horizon, further integrating player feedback into development.
“We’re thrilled to bring even more players into Marathon and to hear their impressions,” Ziegler notes excitedly. “This journey has only just begun, and we have so much more to unveil in the coming months.”
Want to join the action early? Sign up for a chance to play in the month’s Closed Alpha Test by joining the community Discord.
Expect Marathon to land on September 24 for PS5, Steam, and Xbox Series X|S.
