Bungie's Marathon: New Extraction Shooter Coming September 2025

Bungie has officially announced that their new game Marathon will release on September 23, 2025. 

The first-person extraction shooter will be available on multiple platforms -- Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Marathon represents Bungie's fresh approach to the extraction shooter genre, a space currently dominated by games like Escape from Tarkov. 

What makes this announcement particularly noteworthy is that Marathon will be one of the few extraction shooters available on console platforms, as most similar games are PC exclusives.

The official announcement came during a special showcase where Bungie revealed both gameplay footage and details about an upcoming alpha test. Players interested in trying the game early can participate in the closed alpha starting April 23.

This project represents Bungie's first new game since Destiny 2 launched in 2017. It's particularly significant for the studio, which has experienced several rounds of layoffs in recent years. Though Bungie was acquired by Sony (PlayStation's parent company) in 2022, the studio continues to develop games for multiple platforms.

What Makes Marathon Different?

Marathon aims to be more accessible than other extraction shooters, which are typically known for their challenging gameplay. According to Bungie's presentation, the game will feature a more "arcade-style" approach with fast-paced movement and special abilities.

"Death is not the end" appears to be a central theme in the game, as mentioned during the gameplay reveal. 

The developers have designed Marathon to be team-focused, emphasizing collaboration between players.

The game takes place on Tau Ceti IV, where players control cybernetic characters called "Runners." These Runners explore ruins in search of treasures and ancient AI technology. 

So far, Bungie has revealed four Runner types: Locus, Blackbird, Glitch, and Void. Each Runner has unique abilities and characteristics, though the developers note that every character will have both strengths and weaknesses.

The gameplay follows the typical extraction shooter format. Players select and equip their Runner before entering a map. Once inside, they must complete tasks, collect valuable items, and successfully extract from the area without being eliminated by other players or AI enemies.

Team-Based Gameplay

Marathon will primarily use a trios-based model, with teams of three players working together. 

Each map will host 18 players at launch, with three maps available initially. A fourth map, appropriately named "Marathon," will be added after the game's release.

The game combines PvP (player versus player) and PvE (player versus environment) elements.

Visual Style and Development

Marathon stands out visually from other shooters with its colorful, sci-fi aesthetic. The art direction was led by Joe Cross, franchise art director who previously worked on the recent Dune films and Destiny 2.

Cross-Platform Features

In a welcome move for players across different systems, Marathon will support both crossplay and cross-save features. This means players on different platforms can play together, and those who play on multiple systems can maintain their progress across devices.

How to Access the Alpha

Players eager to try Marathon before its official release can attempt to join the closed alpha test beginning April 23. The process starts with joining the official Marathon Discord server and completing a survey.

According to the announcement, access to the alpha will be invitation-only, with priority codes being distributed to selected users. Those who gain access will receive two additional codes they can share with friends (as it's a trios-based model remember).

The alpha will be somewhat limited to players in North America.

The price of Marathon has not yet been confirmed, meaning we do not know if it will be a free game or if you have to pay a hefty price at launch.

Players interested in learning more can wishlist the game on PlayStation 5 now, with Xbox listings coming soon according to the announcement materials.