Bungie Unveils Marathon with Short Film and Announces September Release Date

Over the weekend, Bungie gave fans another glimpse of their upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, during a livestream event. Initially revealed back in May 2023, the developer has been relatively silent since, but with the game set to launch on September 23, they’re now ready to unveil everything Marathon has in store.

The livestream kicked off with a snappy intro and an eye-catching trailer, setting the stage for what was to follow. The developers then took center stage, diving deeper into the game’s mechanics and features. A noteworthy highlight was an extended trailer, brought to life by the narrative talents of Ben Starr, renowned for his roles in Final Fantasy 16 and Balatro. This segment broke down the core gameplay elements of Marathon.

At the heart of the game, players assume the role of Runners—bio-cybernetic mercenaries. They’ll form squads of three to dive into diverse landscapes on Tau Ceti IV’s colony. Upon landing, the mission is simple yet thrilling: explore the surroundings hunting for loot and fulfill contracts for their factions. While doing so, players might cross paths with other teams, offering the opportunity to engage in combat and snatch their loot. Success lies in managing to extract safely with gathered treasures, while any misstep leading to a player’s demise means losing everything—gear, loot, and even what they initially brought in.

The event rounded off with a captivating short film from the Marathon universe. Crafted by Alberto Mielgo, the award-winning animator recognized for his work on The Windshield Wiper, Love, Death & Robots, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the film provided a gritty glance into the Runners’ world reminiscent of Blade Runner’s iconic Voight-Kampff test.

Marathon will be available on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, even though Bungie joined the Sony family in 2022. Gamers eager to dive in can sign up for the alpha test beginning April 23. As the stream continued, the mystery of the game’s pricing remained, though Bungie did confirm to Polygon that Marathon won’t follow a free-to-play model. Despite no official price tag yet, players are left wondering about any monetization plans Bungie might introduce post-launch.