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

On Saturday, Bungie lifted the lid on its upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, with a lively livestream. Originally announced back in May 2023, the studio had remained tight-lipped about the game until now. But as the launch date of September 23 approaches, Bungie seems ready to spill all the details about Marathon.

The event kicked off with an energetic introduction and an eye-catching trailer, setting the stage for what’s to come. Viewers got to hear from some of the developers, who shared in-depth insights into the game. This led to an extended trailer narrated by Ben Starr, known from Final Fantasy 16 and Balatro, which delved into the mechanics of how Marathon plays out.

In this game, each player steps into the shoes—or rather, the shell—of a Runner, a bio-cybernetic mercenary. Players team up in trios and dive into various maps located on the colony of Tau Ceti IV.

Once on the ground, the objective is to scour the surroundings to gather loot and fulfill contracts on behalf of their factions. Interactions with other players can get tense, as it’s possible to eliminate them and make off with their loot. Successfully extracting from Tau Ceti IV means players hold onto the gear they’ve acquired. However, meeting a grim fate results in players losing everything, even the items they brought along.

After an engaging discussion about the game, the event wrapped up with a short film set in the Marathon universe. Created by Alberto Mielgo, the Oscar-winning animator famed for “The Windshield Wiper,” the film provided an intriguing glimpse into the lives of the Runners. It portrayed scenes of them being torn apart by foes, alongside visuals resembling the Voight-Kampff test from Blade Runner, adding an extra layer of depth to the narrative.

Gamers can look forward to Marathon’s release on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X—even with Sony’s acquisition of Bungie in early 2022. For those eager to jump in, sign-ups for the Marathon alpha test, starting April 23, are now open.

While Bungie didn’t reveal Marathon’s pricing details during the event, a spokesperson told Polygon that it won’t adopt a free-to-play model and will instead be sold for a one-time fee. Yet, the exact pricing and any post-launch monetization strategy are still under wraps.