Bungie, the creators of Halo and Destiny, revealed new exclusive gameplay of their upcoming team-based extraction shooter Marathon. As part of the live Marathon Gameplay Reveal Showcase, Bungie developers premiered Alpha gameplay of the tactical and fast-paced FPS, explored the mysterious and cutthroat world of Tau Ceti IV, and discussed how to join the game’s Closed Alpha Test.
In addition, Bungie announced Marathon will release on September 23, 2025 on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S with full cross play and cross save.
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In the meantime, players can join the community Discord and sign up to be among the first to playtest the game. The Closed Alpha Test will take place later this month. The Bungie team will actively engage in Discord, hold live Q&As, and evolve the game based on player feedback for launch and beyond.
The World of Marathon Revealed
In the game, players inhabit a Runner, a cybernetic mercenary scouring the remains of a lost colony of Tau Ceti IV for fortune and power. Players team up in crews of three as they battle rival Runner teams and hostile security forces for weapons and upgrades. Survive, and everything they’ve scavenged is theirs to keep for future runs on Tau Ceti IV—or, if they’re brave enough, a journey to the derelict Marathon ship that hangs above.
What is Tau Ceti IV?
Welcome to Tau Ceti IV, a lost colony whose inhabitants disappeared without a trace. Rival factions compete for the resources left behind, hiring Runners who’ve given up their human form for biosynthetic shells. Death is but a hurdle in this cutthroat competition where power, fortune, and answers to Tau Ceti IV’s mysteries hang in the balance.
Become a Runner
Choose from a roster of cybernetic mercenaries with unique abilities. Players customize their Runner’s playstyle with the weapons, implants, and equipment they collect on their runs. Strategize, execute, and become Tau Ceti’s most feared mercenary.
Season 1 presents high stakes
Bungie’s best-in-class FPS gunplay sets the stage for a unique mix of tactical and fast-paced action, where every run is a tense competition for a big score. End game challenges, ranked play, seasonal storytelling, community events, and more await in Season 1.
Cinematic short explores the game’s intricate universe
While the gameplay was the focus of the Showcase, Bungie surprised audiences by closing out the event with the first original cinematic short set in the Marathon universe. This cinematic short, written and directed by the award-winning director Alberto Mielgo and his animation studio pinkman.tv, displayed the team’s commitment to rich storytelling both in and out of the game.
“When I first read about Marathon’s universe and characters, I found everything strangely poetic and mysterious,” said Alberto Mielgo. “The concepts of futility and endurance immediately came to mind, and I felt an urgent need to write about it. Seeing the game team’s super bold and vibrant artwork created an instant connection. It’s all deeply inspiring and thought-provoking.”
Marathon | Reveal Cinematic Short cast:
- Erica Lindbeck as Glitch
- Elias Toufexis as Void
- Nika Futterman as Blackbird
- Donnla Hughes as ONI
- Ben Starr as Narrator
You can wishlist Marathon now on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
