Marathon reveal showcase happened on Saturday, April 12, 2025. The over-an-hour digital event featured a gameplay reveal, giving prospective fans a glimpse of what is to come. Arguably the high point of the show was the launch date reveal.
Marathon will launch on September 23, 2025, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. It will be set in Tau Ceti IV, and players will work together in crews of three to scavenge what is left of the lost colony on Tau Ceti V.
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Everything can be found, from discarded powerful weapons to equipment. However, it is not going to be a smooth sail because players must go through AI security forces, rival Runner teams, and otherworldly threats to secure the loot.
Bungie said, “Death is part of the journey—it’s a cutthroat world, and it’s not possible to survive every expedition”. However, those who survive the expedition will get to keep all their loot which allows them to enhance their abilities. Here is the first look at the gameplay.
Marathon has a long list of runners (cybernetic mercenaries who have given up their human bodies) from which players can choose. Each Runner has a unique ability, stat, and playstyle—which can be customized using looted implants and equipment. Upon demise, their consciousness is transferred to another biosynthetic shell which makes them sort of immortals.
“For example, Glitch is all about agility, movement, and going fast. You can lean into this style harder by stacking implants and upgrades that reduce heat build-up and allow you to keep running, jumping, and sliding longer before having to cool down,” says Kevin Yanes, Senior Design Lead.
“There are also rare items that can really push the boundaries like Prestige Cores. Glitch has one that will upgrade her double jump to a triple jump, giving you a lot of maneuverability in the air.”
Bungie created Marathon with players at the center
Throughout the development of Marathon, Bungie has worked with creators and players—even before the game entered production. Players were invited to test the early prototypes of the game and provide feedback which shaped the next builds and the developer claimed made the game better.
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“When we first started playtesting, maps acted more like a persistent world,” said Game Director Joe Ziegler. “So, you could drop in and out of the same map server instance multiple times. But we heard this made matches feel unfair and unpredictable, like someone could just be camping spawns forever, or the loot you were going for could’ve already been taken.”
“After hearing this feedback, we moved to the design we have today, where each match is a fresh start for everyone. This consistent starting point means you and your teammates can better strategize before each run, and then you can race enemy teams to fight for the loot you’re looking for.”
Following the official reveal of Marathon, Bungie is set to expand playtests to continue developing the game. Interested players are invited to sign up for a chance to play in this month’s Closed Alpha Test by joining the Discord community.
“We’re beyond excited to invite more players into Marathon and to hear what they think,” Ziegler said. “Plus we have so much more to share in the weeks and months ahead. The journey is really just getting started.”
