Two years after its announcement, Bungie has finally pulled back the curtain on Marathon, revealing gameplay footage and key details about their upcoming extraction shooter.
Marathon transports players to the year 2850, to the mysterious remains of Tau Ceti IV – a lost colony whose inhabitants vanished without explanation. The gameplay footage showcases a visually striking aesthetic that some have compared to Mirror’s Edge, featuring clean lines and vibrant, bold artwork.
The sci-fi setting provides a layout for competitive scavenging as rival factions dispatch their “Runners” to collect valuable loot from the abandoned colony. In Marathon, players assume the role of these Runners, mercenaries who have traded their human forms for biosynthetic shells with unique abilities.
The alpha test, which starts on April 23, will feature four distinct Runner classes:
- Void: A stealthy character reminiscent of Destiny 2‘s Hunters, with invisibility capabilities
- Glitch: A Runner with fast-paced abilities who can disrupt enemies
- Locus: A shield-wielding character that suits run-and-gun playstyles, similar to Destiny 2‘s Titans
- Blackbird: A reconnaissance specialist designed for scanning surrounding areas
The full release will expand this roster to six Runners, providing players with varied playstyles to master.
Marathon embraces the extraction shooter genre popularized by games like Escape from Tarkov. Players form crews of up to three (though solo play is also supported) and compete against rival teams in zones hosting up to 18 players simultaneously. The objective is straightforward: gather valuable loot and successfully extract with it.
The stakes are high as well: if you die, you’ll drop your gear for others to claim. However, successful extraction allows you to keep your hard-won loot for future runs, creating an interesting risk-reward loop. Your teammates can revive you if you fall, and there’s no restriction on team composition, meaning all three players could select the same Runner type if desired.
Beyond rival Runners, the world is populated with security forces and dangerous creatures that add a PvE element to the experience. Players must strategically decide whether to engage these threats or attempt to avoid them entirely, as combat can reveal your position to competing teams.
Bungie has ambitious plans for Marathon beyond its release. Players can look forward to end-game challenges, ranked play, seasonal storytelling, and community events. To build excitement for the Marathon universe, Bungie has also produced an original nine-minute cinematic short directed by Alberto Mielgo of Love, Death, and Robots fame.
For those eager to try Marathon before its September launch, Bungie is hosting a closed alpha test from April 23 to May 4. Though it’s limited to North American players, interested fans can sign up through Bungie’s website or the official Marathon Discord.
While pricing details haven’t been finalized, reports suggest Sony and Bungie are considering a $40 price point, a departure from Destiny 2‘s free-to-play model with paid expansions.
Marathon will launch on September 23 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam, with full cross-play support.
