Bungie Unveils Marathon Again with Short Film and September Launch Date

Bungie gave fans a fresh look at its highly anticipated extraction shooter, Marathon, during a livestream this past Saturday. First unveiled in May 2023, the company has remained fairly tight-lipped since its initial announcement. However, with the release slated for September 23, they’re now ready to spill all the details.

The event kicked off with an introductory segment alongside a dazzling trailer, which we’ve included above for your viewing pleasure. Following that, some Bungie developers took the stage to dive deeper into what players can expect. This segued into an extended trailer, narrated by the talented Ben Starr, known for his work on Final Fantasy 16 and Balatro. This in-depth video broke down the gameplay mechanics of Marathon.

In the game, players take on the role of “Runners”—bio-cybernetic mercenaries—who operate within teams of three. These teams are dropped into various maps on the Tau Ceti IV colony.

Once on-site, players are tasked with scouring the surroundings for loot and fulfilling contracts for their respective factions. Along the way, encounters with other players are inevitable, allowing you to engage in combat to steal their gathered loot. Successfully extracting from Tau Ceti IV with your spoils allows players to keep all gear obtained during their mission. Conversely, meeting an untimely end means dropping everything you’ve accumulated—potentially including items brought along at the start of the session.

As the presentation continued, audiences were treated to a short film rooted in Marathon’s universe. This animated short was the handiwork of Alberto Mielgo, who snagged an Oscar in 2022 for best animated short with “The Windshield Wiper.” Mielgo’s impressive portfolio also includes work on “Love, Death & Robots” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.” The film delves into the life of a Runner, showcasing intense battle sequences interwoven with scenes reminiscent of Blade Runner’s Voight-Kampff test.

Marathon is set for release on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, despite Bungie’s acquisition by Sony in early 2022. Those eager to dive in early can register for the game’s alpha test, which kicks off on April 23.

While Bungie didn’t disclose the game’s pricing during the stream, they did confirm to Polygon that Marathon won’t come as a free-to-play title. Instead, it will require an upfront purchase, although the exact price and any plans for post-launch monetization remain under wraps.