Bungie Unveils Marathon Again with Short Film and Announces September Release Date

Bungie made quite the splash this Saturday by unveiling its reimagined extraction shooter, Marathon, during a livestream event. Although initially announced to the public in May 2023, Bungie has stayed largely under the radar since then. With its release date set for September 23, the game is now stepping into the spotlight as the studio opens up about what players can expect.

The livestream kicked off with a snappy introduction and a dazzling trailer, setting the stage for what’s to come, which you can watch above. Following the trailer, some of the game’s developers took the floor to delve into more specifics. This smoothly transitioned into a more detailed trailer, where Ben Starr, known for his work in Final Fantasy 16 and Balatro, guided us through the mechanics of Marathon.

The core concept revolves around players taking control of a “Runner,” a bio-cybernetic mercenary vessel. These players form teams of three to explore a variety of maps set on Tau Ceti IV’s colony.

Upon landing, players scramble to scavenge loot and fulfill contracts for their in-game factions. But it won’t be a walk in the park—players will encounter opponents along the way and have the option to engage in combat and plunder their newfound treasures. Those lucky enough to extricate themselves from Tau Ceti IV intact will get to keep all their acquired arsenal. However, meeting an untimely end results in losing everything, even the gear originally brought into the game.

After more developer insights, the event wrapped up with a stunning short film set in the Marathon universe. Directed by Alberto Mielgo—renowned for winning the 2022 Oscar for Best Animated Short Film with “The Windshield Wiper”—the film paints a vivid picture of the Runners’ life. It showcases scenes of their bodies confronting threats and features a sequence evocative of Blade Runner’s Voight-Kampff test, highlighting the nuanced layers of the game’s narrative.

Marathon is preparing for launch on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, even though Bungie joined the Sony family in early 2022. Excited gamers can register for the Marathon alpha test, set to take off on April 23.

While the stream left us buzzing, one thing it didn’t touch on was the price tag. A Bungie representative, however, did reveal to Polygon that Marathon will not be a free-to-play experience. Instead, players will need to shell out some cash upfront to play. As for the exact price or any post-launch monetization plans? Those details remain a mystery for now.