Bungie, renowned for its work on the Destiny and Halo franchises, has unveiled the gameplay for the long-awaited next iteration of its Marathon franchise during a live stream earlier today. This announcement follows a teasing reveal of the project in 2023.
Originally launched in 1994, the Marathon series marks one of Bungie’s earliest forays into game development. The upcoming title represents a significant departure from the original games, though Bungie has indicated that there will be meaningful lore connections between the old and new iterations of the franchise.
The new Marathon is designed as a team-based extraction shooter that combines both Player vs. Player (PvP) and Player vs. Environment (PvE) elements. Players will assume the role of a Runner, a cybernetic mercenary who has abandoned their natural body to navigate and recover valuable equipment from a lost colony on the planet Tau Ceti IV.
Visually, the new Marathon adopts a bright and neon aesthetic, a marked change from the usually darker themes associated with Bungie’s Destiny series. However, the gameplay retains the signature tight and rewarding shooting mechanics that Bungie is known for, demonstrating a familiar feel in its gunplay, movement, and overall action.
Each Runner possesses a unique name and personality, including identities such as Glitch, Void, and Blackbird. Choosing a Runner not only establishes a baseline for gameplay style but also allows players to customize and enhance their character through equipment selection and upgrades during matches.
The matches can accommodate up to 18 players, typically grouped in teams of three. There is also an option for players who prefer to operate solo, allowing them to extract valuable items independently. Within each match, teams search through alien ruins while battling against NPC-controlled robots and rival players controlling their own Runners. Each round has a time limit, compelling teams to gather as much equipment as possible before the match concludes. The gear collected can then be utilized to enhance future runs.
As players traverse through diverse maps, they will have access to a variety of weapons along with special abilities and gear that increase the tactical depth of the gameplay. Early gameplay footage demonstrated a range of enhancements, including stealth tools, explosive devices, agility boosts, shield charges, and other forms of equipment.
In addition to showcasing gameplay, Bungie also premiered an animated short directed by the esteemed Alberto Mielgo, recognized for his work on Netflix’s Love, Death, & Robots. This animated short aims to set the tone for the new Marathon experience by exploring themes of body horror and existential dread, as various Runners navigate conflicts on Tau Ceti IV while grappling with their own pasts and what it means to be human. The film exudes a disquieting atmosphere, aiming to resonate with the unsettling elements that characterized the original Marathon games.
Set to launch on September 23, the new Marathon will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam. Bungie has also encouraged fans to join the Marathon Community Discord, offering the opportunity to engage directly with the development team and participate in early playtests.
For those eager to experience it, the gameplay premiere trailer is available for viewing below.
image source from：https://www.gameinformer.com/2025/04/12/bungie-shares-first-marathon-gameplay
