Gameplay
Marathon is a first-person multiplayer extraction shooter. It is set on the planet Tau Ceti IV in the year 2893, where human colonists from the UESC Marathon, a colony ship constructed out of the Martian moon Deimos, had started a new colony. Some event caused the majority of the colonists to disappear, and the remaining survivors have formed factions to scavenge the colony for supplies. These factions have hired "Runners", humans who have given up their body in favor of specialized cybernetic ones, to infiltrate the colony, fight against both rival Runners and alien forces on the planet, and retrieve valuable artifacts, data, and resources. [3]
Each match centers around deploying into a shared environment, searching for loot, and attempting to successfully extract before being eliminated by enemy players or environmental threats. Gameplay is primarily focused on player-versus-player (PvP) encounters, though the game also features player-versus-environment (PvE) elements, including AI-controlled enemies and hazards. [4] The game will feature up to six three-player teams in each match, though players can also participate as a solo or duo operatives at a competitive disadvantage. [5] [3] Players navigate a hostile world, balancing risk and reward. Items collected during a match are permanently lost if the player fails to extract successfully, while items collected on successful extractions can be used for future matches. [6] [3]
Rather than a traditional single-player campaign, Marathon incorporates evolving narrative elements that are shaped by player actions and decisions over time. [7] These changes unfold across in-game seasons and events. [3] Players will have access to customization options, including different character builds, weapons, gear, and abilities. [8] The game supports both solo and team-based play, with tactics and coordination being central to success. Bungie has confirmed that Marathon will include full cross-platform play and cross-save functionality across platforms. [9]
Development
Marathon is Bungie's first major new title since becoming a subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment in 2022, and its first project in over a decade following the Destiny series. [10] Bungie revealed Marathon at the PlayStation 2023 Showcase on May 24, 2023. [11] In August 2024, Bungie underwent a restructuring, resulting in the layoff of approximately 17% of its workforce, which impacted the development timeline of Marathon. [12] The game has been worked on for over 4 years and with 300+ developers. [13]
According to game director Joe Ziegler, Marathon is not intended to replace Bungie's ongoing Destiny 2 , which is primarily focused on player-versus-environment (PvE) rather than player-versus-player (PvP) combat. Ziegler said "We believe that Destiny 2 has a future, and the team working on it has been working really hard to understand what players' needs are. But if you like Destiny, and you happen to like a lot of PvP sandbox experiences, and those are other games that you play, then we think that Marathon could be something very exciting for you." [14]
In April 2025, Bungie launched an alternate reality game (ARG) that teased art assets and information about Marathon. Players solved the ARG to discover the date for a planned gameplay reveal livestream on April 12, 2025. [15] In addition to the gameplay trailer, Bungie unveiled a longer narrative trailer for the game directed by Alberto Mielgo. [16] A closed alpha test took place from April 23 to May 4, 2025; while the test was originally to require players to not disclose anything about the game under a non-disclosure agreement, Bungie lifted this restriction as they felt it was necessary to get feedback for the game. [17] The closed alpha was met with disappointment, with many critics and players believing that the game's release should be delayed. [18] [19] [20] [21]
Marathon is planned for release on September 23, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with full cross-play and cross-save support planned. [5] [22] The game will not require a PlayStation account for playing on Windows or Xbox systems, in contrast with several other Sony-backed games published in 2024 such as Helldivers II . [23]
Plagiarism controversy
In May 2025, Scottish independent artist Fern "Antireal" Hook posted screenshot comparisons between in-game designs from Marathon and her publicly posted designs from 2017 that were either used in an unaltered or in a highly similar form. Antireal said that Bungie had not obtained her permission to use the designs in question. [24] [25] In an interview with The Washington Post, Antireal said that despite being suspicious after initial release of marketing material in 2023, she only decided to speak out after she was able to review gameplay footage from the April 2025 alpha. [26] Bungie affirmed on social media that a former Bungie artist had included Antireal's designs without the company's knowledge. The company also affirmed they were reaching out to Antireal, were "committed to do right by the artist", as well as performing a full review of the game's assets to verify their origins. [24]
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