Bungie Unveils Marathon Gameplay, Release Date, and More

Bungie offers a deep dive with Marathon gameplay, launching September 23rd, 2025, with a closed alpha in April, all the details.

Marathon screenshot banner with a tease for the article.

Today, during a live-streamed showcase, Bungie offered a comprehensive look at its upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon. The event featured plenty of gameplay, insights into the game's lore, details about the upcoming Closed Alpha, and a visually stunning cinematic short directed by Oscar-winner Alberto Mielgo. Let’s dive into all the new information around Bungie’s first title in over a decade.

Marathon: A New Chapter in Bungie's Legacy

Marathon marks Bungie's return to the universe, reimagining the 1994 classic as a modern, team-based extraction shooter. Set on the mysterious planet Tau Ceti IV in the year 2850, you assume the role of "Runners"—cybernetic mercenaries exploring the remnants of a lost colony.

"Marathon marks Bungie's return to the universe, reimagining the 1994 classic as a modern, team-based extraction shooter."

The game emphasizes high-stakes PvPvE gameplay, where teams of three compete to scavenge valuable loot and extract safely, all while facing threats from rival teams and hostile AI opponents. We also saw multilevel environments, weather, and day/night effects, introducing dynamic challenges to each match.

Marathon screenshot with a character running through a pond on a alien world.

Dynamic Environments and Atmospheric Hazards

Bungie has emphasized the importance of environmental storytelling and dynamic conditions in Marathon. The game's maps on Tau Ceti IV are designed with multilevel structures, offering verticality and complex layouts that encourage strategic movement and positioning. Additionally, the inclusion of weather systems and day/night cycles adds variability to each run. Players may encounter sudden storms or shifting lighting conditions that can obscure vision, alter enemy behaviour, or affect extraction points, requiring adaptability and quick decision-making.

Gameplay Mechanics and Features in Marathon

Marathon introduces a unique blend of tactical and fast-paced team-based action. From the looks of the preview gameplay, you’ll need to navigate diverse, danger-filled maps, gathering valuable items and attempting to extract them without being eliminated. Failure to extract results in the loss of all collected gear, adding a layer of tension and strategy to each run.

Marathon screenshot with a two characters that have very different designs.

Customizable Runners

At launch, Marathon will feature six distinct Runners, each with unique abilities and playstyles. You can customize your Runner's loadout with different weapons, implants, and equipment collected during missions, offering a tailored approach to strategies and team compositions. During the upcoming closed Alpha, 4 of the 6 Runners will be available: Locus, the aggressive soldier class; Blackbird, the reconnaissance expert who excels at locating players and planning strategic moves; Glitch, a disruptor focused on compromising enemies and escaping; and Void, the stealth specialist equipped with active camouflage and smoke deployment. I’ll have my impressions once I go hands-on.

Cross-Platform Play and Progression

The game supports full cross-play and cross-save functionality across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC platforms, ensuring a unified experience for all players regardless of their chosen system.

Marathon screenshot with a character pointing a laser at themself.

Closed Alpha Test Details

Bungie announced that a Closed Alpha test for Marathon will run from April 23 to May 4, 2025. Interested players can sign up by joining the official Marathon Discord server and completing a registration survey. Selected participants will receive instructions to download the 6 GB game client. The Alpha will feature two maps—Perimeter and Dire Marsh—and four playable Runners. It's important to note that all progress will be wiped out before the game's full release, but it will offer the first chance for many to get on the sticks with Marathon.

Narrative and World-Building

Marathon is set on Tau Ceti IV, a planet where a once-thriving colony has mysteriously vanished. Players explore this abandoned world, uncovering its secrets while contending with rival factions and hostile entities. The game's lore unfolds through seasonal storytelling, dynamic events, and player-driven discoveries, creating an evolving narrative landscape.

Cinematic Short: A Glimpse into Marathon's Universe

To conclude the showcase, Bungie premiered an eight-minute cinematic short directed by Alberto Mielgo, known for his work on Love, Death & Robots and the Oscar-winning The Windshield Wiper. The short delves into Runners' lives, highlighting the perilous nature of their missions and the existential themes of identity and endurance. Featuring voice performances by Erica Lindbeck, Elias Toufexis, Nika Futterman, Donnla Hughes, and Ben Starr, the film sets the tone for the game's atmosphere. No word if this will be part of the base game’s storytelling or part of a seasonal chapter system, but the world is incredibly vivid and violent.

Community Engagement and Future Outlook

Bungie is actively engaging with the community through the Marathon Discord server, where developers will host live Q&A sessions and gather player feedback to refine the game before its release. Marathon is scheduled for release on September 23rd, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. With its blend of tactical gameplay, intriguing world-building, and community-driven development, Marathon seems poised to carve out a unique space in the competitive shooter landscape; I’m looking forward to going hands-on with Bungie’s latest sci-fi shooter. What were your thoughts on the Marathon gameplay reveal? Let me know in the comments below!

About the Author - Matthew "Dapper Tux" Rondina

Matthew has been involved in all things gaming since the 8-bit era. He is a video game and tech industry veteran who has been passionate about technology and gaming for over 20 years. In addition to being the Managing Editor of dappertux.com, he has bylines with Best Buy, Cineplex Entertainment, Mobile Syrup and Walmart. Follow Matthew’s gaming + tech adventures on multiple social platforms with the handle @dapper_tux via X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and join in on the fun!

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