Bungie Reveals Marathon Gameplay, Release Date, and Ambitious Vision for Its Extraction Shooter | Gaming-DB
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Bungie Reveals Marathon Gameplay, Release Date, and Ambitious Vision for Its Extraction Shooter

Bungie Unveils Gameplay and Release Date for New Extraction Shooter Marathon

Bungie has finally pulled back the curtain on Marathon, its first original project in over a decade, with a gameplay showcase confirming a September 23, 2025 release on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game will feature cross-play and cross-save support, uniting players across platforms in its high-stakes PvPvE battles.

Closed Alpha Kicks Off Later This Month

A Closed Alpha Test for Marathon begins in April 23th, and players can sign up for a chance to participate via the official Marathon Discord server. Bungie emphasized that community feedback will directly shape the game’s development, with live Q&As and updates planned throughout the testing phase.

Marathon: A Brutal Fight for Survival on Tau Ceti IV

Set on the enigmatic colony world Tau Ceti IV, Marathon drops players into the role of Runners—cybernetic mercenaries battling rival crews and rogue security forces for loot, upgrades, and answers. Teams of three must scavenge resources, survive ambushes, and escape with their haul to progress. Death resets progress, but successful runs let players keep gear for future matches or risk it all by venturing to the derelict Marathon ship orbiting the planet.

Key Features:

  • Customizable Runners: Choose from a roster of characters with unique abilities, and tailor loadouts with weapons, implants, and gear scavenged during missions.
  • Tactical, Fast-Paced Combat: Bungie’s signature gunplay meets extraction-shooter tension, with ranked play and seasonal storytelling post-launch.
  • Mysteries of Tau Ceti IV: Uncover the fate of the colony’s vanished inhabitants while navigating factions vying for control.

Cinematic Short Teases Marathon’s Dark Universe

The showcase closed with a surprise: an original cinematic short directed by Oscar-winning animator Alberto Mielgo (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse). The film explores themes of “futility and endurance” in the Marathon universe, blending stark visuals with the game’s dystopian tone.
“The concepts here are poetic and mysterious,” Mielgo said. “It’s deeply inspiring and thought-provoking.”

Marathon aims to redefine extraction shooters with Bungie’s signature polish. Will you brave Tau Ceti IV’s dangers?