If you’ve been scrolling online lately, chances are you’ve heard a lot of buzz about Marathon. This upcoming release from Bungie has everyone talking, and last week we got a juicy glimpse of what’s to come with some new gameplay footage. Honestly, it looks impressive. It seems we could have another entry into that storied Bungie tradition we’ve all come to appreciate over the years. Of course, there are skeptics, and I can understand why. But after giving it some thought, I’m leaning toward optimism when it comes to Marathon.
I have to admit, I was taken aback by how much the gameplay trailer piqued my interest. I haven’t always had the best experiences with extraction shooters. I arrived late to Escape from Tarkov and faced the unenviable challenge of rampant cheating, which left a sour taste for the limited time I invested in it. Forever Winter almost captivated me with its bleak setting of a robotic apocalypse, but once the allure of its aesthetic faded, I got weary of the relentless scavenging. I’ve felt this pattern of initial interest followed by disengagement a few times, making me wonder if this genre is for me.
Despite my history, Marathon has somehow captured my attention. I’m not a Destiny fanatic—I’ve dipped in and out for work, enjoyed the occasional exotic mission, but never glued myself to its world for long spans. Yet, I’ve always respected Bungie from afar. Perhaps it’s that elusive “Bungie magic” that will make all the difference with Marathon. And just to be clear, I mean the talent of the artists, designers, and creators, not the unrealistic expectations of studios to produce magic on slashed budgets.
From what’s been shown, Marathon is delivering exactly what I’ve come to expect from Bungie: a visually breathtaking experience, and not just because of technical wizardry like raytracing. The artistic direction is unique, with nothing quite like it currently on the market, especially with the resources Bungie possesses. When you’re stepping into a well-trodden genre, you need to stand out, not blend in.
The visuals—everything from weapons to environments to characters—shout originality. This far-future setting marries bright, popping colors with retro-futuristic elements, defying the drabness we’ve seen in other dystopian titles. Bungie’s artists have consistently pushed boundaries, as evidenced by Destiny, and that innovation shines through again here.
We also get a taste of the action: fast-paced, tight, cooperative FPS gameplay, complete with intriguing abilities and modern weapon spins. Bungie promises “best-in-class FPS multiplayer action” and while that might sound a tad boastful, it’s justified. Destiny has boasted phenomenal PvP for years, drawing in those who prefer combat arenas over raids and narratives.
Marathon could benefit immensely from this pedigree. Many current extraction shooters lean heavily on realistic, military-styled gunplay. Bungie, however, will leverage its years of sci-fi FPS expertise to ensure Marathon stands out both visually and experientially. This distinction might keep players returning rather than jumping back to tried-and-true titles.
I believe the game has solid potential, building off Bungie’s credibility in crafting enjoyable FPS experiences in futuristic realms. However, my one concern could be its pricing strategy. As we know, live service games often struggle to attract and keep large player bases—there’s a long history of attempts that fizzled out quickly.
With economic uncertainties and the rising costs of gaming hardware, convincing players to invest in a multiplayer-only game, devoid of single-player content, might be challenging. Even the outstanding Titanfall had difficulty breaking through despite its quality.
However, Bungie has demonstrated with Destiny 2 that it can craft engaging narratives and support them with significant updates. While some players come for the big expansions and then leave, many stick around, knowing that Bungie delivers compelling storylines and inventive new modes. This is true even with fluctuating team sizes and a reduced Destiny 2 scope.
If any studio can create a successful live service extraction shooter, it’s Bungie. The Marathon team will need to prove their competence, maintaining a steady stream of engaging content post-launch. If they follow through, given Marathon’s promising start, I must say I’m excited. Despite my previous experiences, this looks like a winner.
