Bungie Unveils Marathon Again with New Short Film and September Launch Date

In a recent livestream, Bungie reignited excitement for its extraction shooter, Marathon, having first introduced it back in May 2023. Since that announcement, things have been quiet, but with the game slated for release on September 23, the studio is now spilling more details about what players can expect.

During the event, Bungie kicked things off with a snappy introduction followed by a captivating trailer, which you can check out above. The trailer set the stage for what’s to come, and it was followed by several developers who dug deeper into the game’s details. But the real treat was a more comprehensive trailer, brought to life by the narration of Ben Starr, known for his work on Final Fantasy 16 and Balatro. This trailer provided a closer look at the gameplay mechanics.

In Marathon, players step into the shoes—or more accurately, the bio-cybernetic bodies—of Runners. These mercenary characters team up in groups of three and drop into various maps situated on the colony of Tau Ceti IV.

Inside these maps, players will be busy scavenging for loot and fulfilling contracts for their factions back home. Of course, they’re not alone; other players will be roaming the same terrain, and conflict can lead to opportunities to snag opponents’ loot. Those who manage to extract successfully from Tau Ceti IV get to keep their spoils. But be warned—dying means losing everything in your inventory, even the gear you brought along.

Later in the livestream, viewers were treated to a short film set in the Marathon universe. Directed by Oscar-winning animator Alberto Mielgo, known for works like The Windshield Wiper, Love, Death & Robots, and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the film explored the brutal life of a Runner—interspersed with scenes reminiscent of Blade Runner’s iconic Voight-Kampff test.

Despite Sony’s acquisition of Bungie in early 2022, Marathon will be available on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. Plus, if you’re eager to get your hands on it soon, there’s a chance to participate in the game’s alpha test starting April 23.

One thing that wasn’t clarified during the stream was the game’s price. However, a Bungie spokesperson confirmed to Polygon that Marathon won’t be free-to-play; it will have an upfront cost, although the exact pricing and any post-launch monetization strategies are still under wraps.