Marathon Release Date Confirmed During Gameplay Reveal Showcase

Marathon developer Bungie announced the game's release date during its gameplay reveal showcase. Dive in to discover more about the game and how you can participate in the Marathon Closed Alpha Playtest.

Marathon Coming on September 23

Returning to Tau Ceti

Destiny and Halo developer Bungie held a gameplay reveal showcase on April 13 for its upcoming first-person extraction shooter, Marathon. The game focuses on multiplayer strategies where six teams of three players compete against each other and AI-controlled enemies to secure loot and successfully extract items.

This represents a significant shift from the original trilogy of the game. The first Marathon was released in 1994, followed by Marathon 2: Durandal in 1995, and the final game in the trilogy, Marathon Infinity, in 1996. All these games were story-driven, single-player experiences.

In a PlayStation.blog post dated April 12, Bungie developers provided insights into what players can expect from Marathon. Despite the shift to a multiplayer-focused approach, Marathon Narrative Leader Jonathan Goff emphasized the continuation of experiential storytelling, a hallmark of Bungie games.

Goff stated, "The interweaving of narratives, events, and characters in the original trilogy delivered a world of discovery, wonder, and misdirection." He further elaborated, "Our goal with Marathon is not to tell a story, but to build worlds in which stories can and will unfold."

Making Marathon a "Story Engine"

During the reveal stream, fans noticed a significant emphasis on in-game currency, with every item in a player's inventory having a sell price and clear indicators of what can be extracted from a map. However, Bungie clarified that accumulating wealth isn't the sole focus of the game.

The developers aim for Marathon to function as a "story engine," generating memorable battles and lasting experiences even when missions fail or players leave the map empty-handed. Marathon Game Director Joe Ziegler shared with PC Gamer, "What we're trying to do is say, 'how do you go on adventures and then feel that survival challenge, that survival story that you're making?' Some of the best survival stories and moments I've had in gaming are actually failures or weird things that have happened, right?" Ziegler emphasized that success in Marathon isn't solely about survival but also about crafting a compelling story from each run.

Working With Fans and Creators

Bungie has actively collaborated with fans and content creators throughout Marathon's development. From the early stages, even before entering full production, players were involved in playtesting prototypes, providing valuable feedback.

One common piece of feedback was that maps felt unfair and unpredictable, with issues like spawn camping and pre-empted loot collection. In response, Ziegler explained, "After hearing this feedback, we moved to the design we have today, where each match is a fresh start for everyone. This consistent starting point means you and your teammates can better strategize before each run, and then you can race enemy teams to fight for the loot you’re looking for."

Marathon Closed Alpha Playtest

Bungie will conduct a closed alpha playtest for Marathon from April 23 to May 4. Participation is restricted to residents of the U.S. and Canada.

The closed alpha will feature four Runners for players to try: Blackbird, similar to Destiny 2’s Warlock; Void, with tactical invisibility; Locus, equipped with a tactical shield; and Glitch, known for great mobility. Three maps will be available: Perimeter, a woodland map for five crews (15 players), and Dire Marsh, a more open map for six crews (18 players).

To sign up, visit Marathon's official Discord server, navigate to the alpha-access channel, and use the "/alpha" command. Keep in mind that an invitation is not guaranteed as this is the game's first public exposure.

There have been no official announcements regarding additional playtests outside the specified regions. Marathon is set to launch on September 23, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay updated with the latest game news by checking out our related articles below!