Almost eight years have passed since the release of Destiny 2. A game that, despite all these years, is still being followed by Bungie developers. After being under the umbrella of Microsoft, then Activision, the studio was acquired in 2022 by PlayStation to open a new page in its history. This new chapter will be marked not by updates to Destiny 2, but by the launch of Marathon. An old license that began in 1994 and is being dusted off today by Bungie.
Bungie runs the Marathon after Destiny 2
We can't say that Marathon has been very talkative until now. But Bungie has finally pulled out all the stops for its next game with a long presentation livestream. A proper presentation that allows you to better understand this new title arriving this year. What is it exactly? Like the original trilogy released in the 90s, it's an FPS. And more precisely, a team-based extraction shooter. In Marathon 2025, you play as a Runner. A person who has been able to transfer their consciousness into a synthetic body, in a universe set in 2850.
"A gigantic ghost ship wanders in low orbit near a lost colony on Tau Ceti IV. The 30,000 beings who had made their home there have disappeared body and soul. Strange signals reveal the presence of mysterious artifacts, long-dormant AI, and unknown riches." If you're feeling a sense of déjà vu, that's normal. Indeed, Bungie is leaning heavily on its franchise, which began in 1994, to bring it up to date. It won't appeal to everyone, but for those who played the previous Marathon trilogy, there are references and other Easter eggs like the planet, the enemies, or even the themes explored, such as artificial intelligence.
A direct rival to Escape From Tarkov and another extraction shooter?
While Marathon shares the first-person view with Bungie's previous productions (Halo, Destiny), and the multiplayer aspect, here we are faced with a PvP PvE extraction shooter. In other words, an extraction shooter like Escape from Tarkov, Hunt: Showdown, or Exoborne, with gunplay that's reminiscent of Destiny right from the start. The goal is very simple. You're thrown onto a map with teammates, and your mission is to find the best resources, equipment, weapons, etc. Then, of course, to extract yourself without dying. Because if you die, all your loot is lost forever. Conversely, if you survive the games, which each last 30 minutes at most - at least for now - then you can store your finds in a chest and start a new run, taking care to create the best possible loadout so as not to fail.
At launch, Marathon will host three maps and let you choose between 6 characters including Locus, Blackbird, Glitch and Void. Each will have different powers. In the archetypes, you can play as a highly mobile hero who benefits from a double jump; a tank equipped with a shield; a protagonist who can scan the surroundings and highlight enemies; or a character who thinks he's a Predator by becoming invisible. In total, Marathon games can accommodate up to 18 players on a map. We already know that there's one map that can accommodate three teams of six players. And another that can accommodate up to three teams of four players.
We haven't been able to play it yet, but we're promised some pretty aggressive AI enemies, in addition to real players who will be fighting over the same loot. The loot race is indeed the main concept of Marathon. While you'll obviously start with low-end gear, as you progress, you'll acquire increasingly powerful equipment through various means. For example, maps are full of keys that can unlock spaces where higher-quality loot is stored.
Thanks to dynamic events, it will also be possible to obtain more powerful gear. Whether by intercepting a capsule dropped from the sky, or by crossing a huge pink ball. Inside, you'll face very angry enemies, you'll no longer have a shield, but you'll be better rewarded in return. Via a Black Market, it will also be possible to sell gear to acquire new toys.
Halo's dads are digging into Netflix and Love, Death + Robots
The very principle of the extraction shooter, and therefore of Marathon, relies on urgency and the risk of losing everything at any moment. Thus, teamplay is at the heart of the experience with shared objects and a team that must be balanced and ready to revive its members, finishing off enemies who have fallen to the ground but are not yet dead. Before the statutory 30-minute time limit expires, you must activate the extraction point. From then on, a huge, anything but discreet purple beam shoots up into the sky, signaling to the bots and especially to the other teams that you have escaped. You then have one minute to reach this point, then you must stay there for 30 seconds without dying.
Marathon, like the two Destiny games, is a service game that aims to last over time. To revive interest, Bungie will bring seasonal content, particularly with stories. Although it's an extraction shooter, the developers aim to offer a real lore that will be told through the "Factions." Groups from which you can accept "Contracts" (one per run) and which, if completed, allow you to progress in the scenario but also to always have a little stuff. Because unlike the equipment looted in the game via enemies, special locations etc., the resources gained with the Factions are kept no matter what happens, even if your extraction fails.
To demonstrate their commitment to establishing a universe, Bungie enlisted Alberto Mielgo, the director of Episode 9 of Season 3 of the series Love, Death + Robots, "Jibaro," available on Netflix. "When I first read about the Marathon universe and characters, I found everything mysterious and strangely poetic. The concepts of futility and endurance immediately came to mind, and I felt the need to write about it. The team's rich and dynamic artistic work created an immediate connection. It's all very inspiring and thought-provoking," said the filmmaker responsible for the Marathon short film, which fully embraces the narrative and staging codes of the Love, Death & Robots series. Robots.
Marathon release date and alpha. How to play it for free?
After all this presentation, there remains one unknown. When will you be able to play Marathon? The game will be available on September 23, 2025 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. That's the same day as Borderlands 4. If you like co-op games, you're in for a treat! To avoid attracting the wrath of players, Bungie has said no to the PlayStation Network account. Therefore, if you play on Xbox Series or PC, you won't need a PSN account on those platforms. This avoids the controversy that affected Helldivers 2 and several single-player PlayStation games.
Before its release, Marathon will be playable for free. An alpha will indeed be held starting on April 23, 2025. To participate, you'll need to be on the game's Discord. From a content perspective, there will be four Runners out of the six available at launch. What do you think of this presentation of Bungie's new game? Reassured by the first previews and promises? Do you like the Destiny feel? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
Source: YouTube Marathon.
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