"Marathon: Bungie's Shooter Back on Track After Year of Silence"

Bungie's eagerly anticipated sci-fi extraction shooter, Marathon, finally broke its yearlong silence with a significant developer update. Initially unveiled at the PlayStation Showcase in May 2023, Marathon has stirred excitement among fans eager to revisit the nostalgia of Bungie's pre-Halo era, while also attracting new gamers to its unique universe.

Bungie’s Marathon Resurfaces with New Developer Update

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

After more than a year of silence, Bungie's Game Director Joe Ziegler delivered a much-anticipated update on Marathon. Addressing the community's queries, Ziegler described Marathon as Bungie’s venture into the extraction shooter genre. Although he couldn't share gameplay footage, he assured fans that the game is "on track" and undergoing "aggressive changes" based on extensive player testing. Ziegler also teased a class-based system where players can select and tailor "Runners" with distinct abilities, showcasing initial screenshots of the "Thief" and "Stealth" Runners.

Despite the sparse details, fans have something to look forward to: expanded playtests in 2025. Although the exact timing remains undisclosed, Ziegler encouraged enthusiasts to add Marathon to their wishlists on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation to stay informed about future updates.

Bungie's Marathon Overview

Marathon is a reimagined version of Bungie's iconic 1990s trilogy, marking the studio's first significant shift away from the Destiny franchise in over a decade. According to former director Chris Barrett, Marathon isn’t a direct sequel but rather a new entry that resonates with the original universe and embodies the essence of a Bungie game. Barrett emphasized that prior knowledge of the Marathon series isn't necessary, but the game includes nods and Easter eggs for long-time fans.

Set on the desolate planet of Tau Ceti IV, Marathon challenges players as "Runners" to battle for survival, wealth, and fame. Players can choose to team up or go solo to collect alien artifacts and valuable loot, all while navigating the risks of encountering rival crews or managing a perilous extraction.

Barrett confirmed in 2023 that Marathon is designed as a PvP-focused experience without a single-player campaign, emphasizing player-driven stories that weave into the game's overarching narrative. With Joe Ziegler now leading the project, he promised to introduce modern elements and a fresh narrative to keep the game evolving and engaging over time.

Marathon will be available 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, the development landscape shifted when Chris Barrett was removed from his position as project lead following allegations of inappropriate behavior. Joe Ziegler, previously the game director for Riot Games’ Valorant, stepped in to lead Marathon. Additionally, Bungie faced substantial layoffs in 2024, affecting about 17% of its workforce, which undoubtedly slowed down the development process.

Despite these challenges, the news of expanded playtests in 2025 offers hope and excitement for fans as they await more details and a potential release date. The recent Developer Update signals that Marathon's development is progressing smoothly, despite the hurdles faced by the studio.