Bungie, the renowned developer behind Destiny and Halo, has officially announced the release date for their highly anticipated first-person extraction shooter, Marathon, during a captivating gameplay reveal showcase. Dive into the details of what to expect from the game and how you can participate in the upcoming Closed Alpha Playtest.

Marathon Coming on September 23

Returning to Tau Ceti

On April 13, Bungie unveiled a gameplay reveal showcase for Marathon, setting the stage for its release on September 23, 2025. This new iteration of Marathon shifts the focus to multiplayer dynamics, where six teams of three players will battle against each other and AI-controlled enemies to secure valuable loot and successfully extract items.

This marks a significant evolution from the original Marathon trilogy, which began with the first game in 1994, followed by Marathon 2: Durandal in 1995, and concluded with Marathon Infinity in 1996. Unlike the multiplayer-centric approach of the new game, the original trilogy was renowned for its immersive, single-player narrative experiences.

In a detailed post on the PlayStation.blog dated April 12, Bungie's developers shared insights into what players can anticipate from Marathon. Despite the shift to multiplayer, Marathon Narrative Leader Jonathan Goff emphasized the game's commitment to experiential storytelling, a signature element of Bungie's game design.

Goff elaborated, "The interweaving of narratives, events, and characters in the original trilogy delivered a world of discovery, wonder, and misdirection." He further explained, "At the end of the day, 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 observed a strong emphasis on in-game economics, with every item in a player's inventory having a sell price and clear indicators of what can be extracted from each map. However, Bungie clarified that accumulating wealth is not the sole focus of the game.

The developers aim for Marathon to serve as a "story engine," fostering memorable encounters and lasting memories, even in the face of mission failures or leaving a map empty-handed. Marathon Game Director Joe Ziegler, in a recent interview with PC Gamer, highlighted the game's direction, stating, "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 is not solely about survival but about crafting a compelling narrative from each run.

Working With Fans and Creators

Throughout Marathon's development, Bungie has actively engaged with fans and content creators, incorporating their feedback from early prototypes to refine the game's design. One significant piece of feedback was the unpredictability and perceived unfairness of the maps, where players could camp spawns indefinitely or find that desired loot had already been claimed.

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 is set to launch a Closed Alpha Playtest for Marathon from April 23 to May 4, exclusively for residents of the U.S. and Canada. Participants will have the opportunity to explore four distinct Runners: Blackbird, reminiscent of Destiny 2’s Warlock; Void, equipped with tactical invisibility; Locus, featuring a tactical shield; and Glitch, known for its exceptional mobility. The alpha will also include three maps: Perimeter, a woodland setting for five crews (15 players), and Dire Marsh, a more open environment for six crews (18 players).

To join the Closed Alpha, interested players should visit Marathon's official Discord server, navigate to the alpha-access channel, and use the "/alpha" command to sign up. Keep in mind that participation is not guaranteed, as this is a closed alpha and the first public exposure of the game.

No further playtest announcements have been made for regions beyond the U.S. and Canada. Marathon is slated for release on September 23, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for more updates and insights by checking out our related articles!