Bungie Unveils Marathon Again with Short Film and September Launch Date

Bungie brought their game Marathon back into the spotlight during a live stream on Saturday. Initially announced in May 2023, details about Marathon have been sparse. However, with the game’s launch set for September 23rd, Bungie is now all set to unveil everything we need to know about this intriguing extraction shooter.

The event kicked off with a brief introduction and a glossy trailer, which you can catch above. Right after, some of Bungie’s developers elaborated on the game’s mechanics, leading us into a much more detailed trailer. This trailer, voiced by Ben Starr, known for his roles in Final Fantasy 16 and Balatro, dives into the workings of Marathon.

In the game, you step into the shoes—or rather, the shell—of a Runner. These bio-cybernetic mercenary bodies allow players to squad up in trios and dive into various maps located on the Tau Ceti IV colony.

Upon landing, your mission is to scour the environment for loot and fulfill contracts for your faction back home. The thrill doesn’t stop there—other players are also in the mix, and you have the option to engage them in combat to swipe their hard-earned loot. Securing an extraction from Tau Ceti IV means you get to keep every bit of gear you’ve acquired. However, if you meet an untimely end, you lose everything in your inventory, including items brought into the game lobby.

Following more in-depth conversations about the game, the event wrapped up with a captivating short film set in Marathon’s universe. This piece, crafted by Oscar-winner Alberto Mielgo, who won for best animated short film in 2022 with The Windshield Wiper, offers an immersive glimpse into the life of the Runners. The film mixes intense scenes of battle with elements reminiscent of the Voight-Kampff test from Blade Runner, showcasing the adversities these mercenaries face.

Marathon is gearing up for release on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, despite Bungie’s acquisition by Sony in early 2022. Gamers eager to experience Marathon early can register for its alpha test starting April 23rd.

While the stream didn’t touch on the pricing strategy, Bungie assured Polygon that Marathon won’t be a free-to-play title; it’ll come with an upfront price tag. However, details on the cost or post-launch monetization strategies remain up in the air.