Marathon, Bungie’s Extraction Shooter, Claimed to be \"On Track\" After Yearlong Radio Silence

After a year of silence, Bungie has finally provided an update on their eagerly awaited sci-fi extraction shooter, Marathon. Initially announced in the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase, the game rekindled nostalgia for Bungie's pre-Halo era and captured the attention of a new generation of gamers.

Bungie’s Marathon Resurfaces with New Developer Update

Marathon Game Release Date Still Far Off, But Playtests Are Planned for 2025

For over a year, details about Marathon have been scarce, leaving fans in suspense. The long-awaited developer update was delivered by Marathon’s Game Director, Joe Ziegler. He addressed the community's curiosity by clarifying that Marathon is Bungie's take on the extraction shooter genre. Although no gameplay footage was shared, Ziegler confirmed that the game is "on track" and has undergone "aggressive changes" following extensive testing with players. He also hinted at a class-based system where players can choose and customize "Runners" with unique abilities, showcasing screenshots of the "Thief" and "Stealth" Runners.

Despite the limited information, fans have something to look forward to: expanded playtests planned for 2025. While the exact dates remain undisclosed, Ziegler encouraged fans to wishlist the game on platforms like Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation to stay updated.

Bungie's Marathon Overview

Marathon represents a reimagining of Bungie’s early 1990s trilogy and marks the studio's first major project outside the Destiny franchise in over a decade. According to former director Chris Barrett, Marathon is set in the same universe but is not a direct sequel. The game is designed to be accessible to newcomers while rewarding fans with nods to the original series.

Set on the desolate world of Tau Ceti IV, Marathon is a high-stakes extraction shooter where players, known as Runners, must fight for survival, riches, and fame. Players can team up or go solo to scavenge for alien artifacts and valuable loot, facing the risk of rival crews and last-second extractions.

Originally, Barrett emphasized Marathon’s focus on PvP without a single-player campaign, aiming to create player-driven stories integrated with the overarching game narrative. With Joe Ziegler now leading the project, it remains to be seen if this vision will evolve. Ziegler promised to modernize the game, introducing new elements and a new story that can be continually updated to engage players over time.

Marathon is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with confirmed cross-play and cross-save features across all platforms.

What Happened to Marathon’s Development?

In March 2024, Chris Barrett was reportedly fired from Bungie following allegations of inappropriate behavior, leading to Joe Ziegler taking over as game director. Ziegler's previous role as the game director of Riot Games' Valorant suggests a shift in development priorities. Additionally, Bungie faced significant layoffs this year, impacting about 17% of their workforce, which likely slowed down Marathon's development.

While a release date remains distant, the promise of expanded playtests in 2025 offers hope that Marathon's development is progressing well, despite the challenges faced by the studio.