Two years after its announcement, Marathon has decided to accelerate progress. The gameplay reveal took place during a live stream on a Saturday evening in France. Although many people were enjoying the fine weather or dining out as we were, the game became a trending topic on social media the following day, and it is accurate to say that the feedback has been mixed. Marathon is entering the scene at a time when ‘Games as a Service’ are no longer considered trendy, with several such games failing (Concord, Suicide Squad) or being outright cancelled (The Last of Us Online, God of War multiplayer). A quick review of discussions around the game on Twitter, Reddit, and other Facebook forums shows that it is far from universally acclaimed. This is whether regarding its bold artistic direction (which we personally find appealing) or its gameplay, which appears to align with current market trends.
Nearly as many likes as dislikes…
On the official Marathon chain, both trailers dedicated to gameplay have received a particularly strong negative ratio despite having more likes than dislikes—16,000 likes versus 9,100 dislikes. This indicates that not everyone is impressed. However, what exactly is Marathon? It is a new offspring from Bungie Studios (known for Halo and Destiny) and an ambitious reboot of the cult franchise developed by Bellevue Studio, which dates back to 1994. Scheduled for release on September 23, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, this new title is a PvPvE extraction first-person shooter set in a cyberpunk universe. The 2025 Marathon stands out mainly due to its audacious artistic direction by Joseph Cross, characterized by the use of many colors in highly worked areas presented in an original manner. Additionally, a nearly 9-minute cinematic short film by Alberto Mielgo has been released to enhance the game’s universe. Unlike a traditional single-player campaign, Marathon’s story will evolve over seasons and be influenced by players’ decisions and actions.
In “Marathon,” players assume the roles of “Runners,” cybernetically enhanced humans exploring the abandoned colony of Tau Ceti IV in the year 2850. The gameplay focuses on extraction missions where up to 18 players (six teams of three) compete to retrieve valuable resources while navigating environmental hazards and combatting AI-controlled enemies. Death during a mission leads to a permanent loss of unextracted loot, adding strategic depth and intensity to the game experience. Like any multiplayer game designed for sustained engagement, “Marathon” offers extensive customization options for “Runners,” including various skills such as stealth, speed, or close-quarters combat. Players can also build relationships with different factions by completing contracts, which unlock improvements and additional content. Progression is persistent, and the game will evolve over seasons, with narrative events influenced by community actions.
A closed alpha test is scheduled from April 23 to May 4, 2025, exclusively in North America for players aged 18 and over. To register, participants must join the official Marathon Discord server and follow the provided instructions. Selected individuals will receive an access code linked to their Bungie account. The game will support cross-play and cross-platform saves, allowing players from different platforms to play together and maintain their progression.
Bungie is taking a significant risk with Marathon, which is a reboot of the 1994 cult franchise originally developed by Bellevue Studio. The game promises to deliver a demanding and tense shooter experience enhanced with nostalgic elements. Scheduled for release on September 23, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, it will be interesting to see if Bungie can successfully revitalize this classic title from nearly three decades ago and position it as the multiplayer game of the year.
