Marathon, Bungie’s Extraction Shooter, Claimed to be \"On Track\" After Yearlong Radio Silence

Bungie's Sci-Fi Extraction Shooter, Marathon: A Year Later

Marathon's Release Remains Distant, But 2025 Playtests Are Planned

After over a year of silence, Bungie has finally offered an update on their highly anticipated sci-fi extraction shooter, Marathon. Initially unveiled at the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the game reignited excitement for Bungie's pre-Halo era while captivating a new audience. However, the initial announcement was followed by a prolonged period without news.

Game Director Joe Ziegler's recent developer update addressed player concerns directly. While gameplay footage remains unavailable, Ziegler confirmed the project is progressing well, noting significant gameplay revisions based on extensive player testing. He teased a class-based system featuring customizable "Runners," each with unique abilities. Two examples, "Thief" and "Stealth," were showcased via screenshots, hinting at their respective playstyles.

Expanded playtests are scheduled for 2025, offering a broader player base the chance to participate. Ziegler encouraged fans to wishlist Marathon on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation to demonstrate interest and facilitate future communication regarding updates and playtest opportunities.

A Look at Bungie's Marathon

Marathon reimagines Bungie's classic 1990s trilogy, marking the studio's most significant departure from the Destiny franchise in over a decade. While not a direct sequel, it shares the same universe and embodies the essence of a Bungie game. Prior statements confirmed that prior knowledge of the original Marathon games isn't required, although fans will find familiar references and Easter eggs.

Set on Tau Ceti IV, Marathon casts players as Runners competing for survival, wealth, and glory. Players can team up or go solo, scavenging for alien artifacts and valuable loot while potentially encountering rival teams or facing perilous last-second extractions.

Initially conceived as a purely PvP experience without a single-player campaign, the game's focus on player-driven narratives integrated with the overarching story remains to be seen under Ziegler's leadership. He did promise the addition of elements to modernize the game, introducing a fresh narrative and world with ongoing updates.

Cross-play and cross-save functionality are confirmed across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Gameplay footage will be revealed closer to launch.

Marathon's Development Journey

In March 2024, original project lead Chris Barrett's departure from Bungie following allegations of misconduct, as reported by Bloomberg, led to Joe Ziegler's appointment as game director. This transition, coupled with studio-wide layoffs impacting approximately 17% of the workforce, likely contributed to the extended development timeline.

While a 2025 release date remains uncertain, the announcement of expanded playtests offers a positive outlook for fans eagerly anticipating Marathon's arrival.