Bungie Unveils Marathon with Short Film and September Launch Date

Bungie brought its upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, back into the spotlight during a livestream this past Saturday. After its initial reveal in May 2023, the studio had kept things pretty hush-hush. But with the game’s release set for September 23, they’re now ready to open up about everything Marathon.

The livestream kicked off with an energetic introduction and an eye-catching trailer, setting the tone for what’s to come. After this visual feast, Bungie’s developers took center stage to dive deeper into the game mechanics. This segment led to an extended trailer, which was intriguingly narrated by Ben Starr, known for his roles in Final Fantasy 16 and Balatro. The trailer broke down the ins and outs of Marathon.

In this game, players take on the role of Runners, essentially bio-cybernetic mercenaries. Teaming up in squads of three, players will venture into various maps set on the mysterious colony of Tau Ceti IV.

Once in, players are tasked with scavenging the environment for loot and fulfilling contracts for their respective factions back home. Interaction with other players adds an edge, as they can engage in combat to snatch each other’s loot. Successfully extracting from Tau Ceti IV means players get to keep all the gear they’ve gathered during their mission. However, dying will result in losing everything—including items brought along from the lobby.

The event wrapped up with a captivating short film set in Marathon’s universe, masterfully created by Alberto Mielgo. Mielgo, who snagged an Oscar in 2022 for his animated short film “The Windshield Wiper,” has also worked on hits like Love, Death & Robots and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. His short film offers a glimpse into the harsh lives of the Runners, featuring intense sequences of combat and elements reminiscent of the Voight-Kampff test from Blade Runner.

Gamers can look forward to Marathon’s launch on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, despite Bungie’s acquisition by Sony in early 2022. Those eager for a sneak peek can sign up for the Marathon alpha test, kicking off on April 23.

Interestingly, Bungie stayed mum on Marathon’s pricing during the livestream. However, a spokesperson told Polygon that it won’t be a free-to-play title, confirming it will come with an upfront cost. For now, the specific pricing and any post-launch monetization plans remain a mystery.