Bungie finally revealed gameplay for its upcoming first-person extraction shooter Marathon on Saturday, sharing more details about the game, including a release date. Marathon will launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X on September 23, with closed alpha gameplay planned for later this month. In the gameplay reveal, the developers showed off the characters, maps, the game’s unique art style, and more.
Marathon gameplay revealed
Marathon will support cross-play and cross-save between Steam, PlayStation and Xbox, and is now available for wishlisting on supported platforms. Bungie took a deep dive into the gameplay during its gameplay showcase and shared details about the online shooter’s setup. This team-based extraction shooter is set in the ghost colony of Tau Ceti IV, pitting a team of three “runners” against rival teams and AI enemies in search of better gear.
Bungie describes runners as cybernetic mercenaries who gave up their human form for biosynthetic shells.
The surviving team will keep their loot for future use on the T Ceti IV colony or on their journey to the abandoned Marathon ship suspended in orbit. “Death is part of the journey – it’s a brutal world and it’s impossible to survive every adventure. But every time you come out alive, you get to keep everything you pick up, meaning you’ll gain strength and fill your coffers as you play,” Bungie said in a PlayStation blog post revealing the gameplay of Marathon.
Runners and story details
Players can choose from six playable runners with unique abilities and skills. During a run, players can collect implants and other equipment that allow them to shape the runner’s play style.
“Glitch, for example, is all about agility, movement, and speed. You can lean more into that style by stacking implants and upgrades that reduce heat buildup, allowing you to continue running, jumping, and gliding for longer before you have to cool down,” said senior design lead Kevin Yanes.
Bunge said the Marathon narrative will primarily consist of environmental stories. Players will be encouraged to explore and uncover the mysteries of Tau Ceti IV with the help of scattered clues and files stored on their computer terminals.
“Ultimately, our goal at Marathon is not to tell a story but to build a world in which the story can and will unfold,” said narrative lead Jonathon Goff.
Marathon Closed Alpha Game Test
According to Bungie, Marathon has incorporated player feedback from early playtests, and further playtests will take place ahead of the game’s release on September 23.
“We’re excited to invite more players to participate in the marathon and hear their thoughts,” said game director Joe Ziegler. “Additionally, we have a lot more to share in the coming weeks and months. The journey is really just beginning.”
Marathon closed alpha testing will begin on April 23 and run until May 4. Players can sign up for the first playtest on the game’s official Discord. Bungie said the closed alpha will be open to players 18 and older who are located in North America.