After bidding farewell to the iconic Halo series, Bungie has ventured into new territory with the launch of two Destiny games. For nearly a decade, the team has been dedicated to these projects, but now they are ready to unveil their latest endeavor.
In a surprising turn, Bungie is reviving its earlier franchise, Marathon. While the original games were reminiscent of the early Doom titles, this new iteration is taking a fresh approach. Given Bungie’s expertise in creating exceptional sci-fi shooters, let’s dive into all we currently know about Marathon.
Release Date
As of now, Marathon does not have a specific release window. However, following some recent layoffs at Bungie, the target timeline has been pushed to 2025. Recent updates indicate that development is on track, but there will be no new visuals until approximately mid-2025.
Platforms
Even though Bungie is now part of PlayStation, they maintain their commitment to releasing games across multiple platforms. Marathon is set to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
Trailers
The teaser trailer for Marathon doesn’t showcase any gameplay but introduces viewers to the game’s sci-fi universe. The primary narrative follows a character sprinting with a timer attached to their back on a ship that appears to have collided with a moon. Viewers catch glimpses of potential enemies and creatures before the character is taken down by a robotic sniper. This sniper retrieves an item from the fallen character as two other figures stand guard.
In a blog post, director Joe Ziegler mentioned that a significant aspect of Marathon will be “player-based storytelling,” where player decisions and actions can influence the narrative instead of having a fixed storyline. The game will not feature a single-player campaign; instead, all lore and story will unfold through the PvP mode. Players may uncover new areas during gameplay that could be explored by everyone.
Furthermore, the team has expressed their intention to honor the original lore and universe of Marathon without it being labeled as a direct sequel.
While not a traditional trailer, a development update video recently released by Joe Ziegler offered insights into the game’s progress. Though no new details or footage were shared, viewers were treated to two pieces of concept art featuring characters named Stealth and Thief.
Gameplay
If Marathon reminds you of Destiny, that’s not entirely incorrect. It’s set to be another sci-fi, persistent-world, first-person shooter that allows for solo or team play in a PvPvE setup. Players will assume the role of a Runner heading to the planet Tau Ceti IV to gather loot and then escape to upgrade their character. Players can venture alone or in groups of up to three in search of alien artifacts, weapons, and other undisclosed gear. This format is often called an extraction shooter, similar to titles like Escape from Tarkov. Beyond these foundational concepts, actual gameplay footage will be necessary for a clearer picture of the mechanics.
Preorder Information
Marathon is still a considerable way from launch. Once a release date is confirmed and preorder options become available, we will ensure to provide updates on how to secure your preferred version.