In our Marathon The Game overview we are going to shed light on one of the most ambitious upcoming sci-fi PvP extraction shooters from Bungie, the creators of Halo and Destiny. This Marathon hands-on preview will tell you about Marathon’s official release date, gameplay features, story setting, and more.
What is Marathon the Game?
Complete In-Game Objectives
Scavenge the Loot
Play with a Team of Three
Gain Reputation with Factions
Revive Your Teammates
Marathon is a new first-person shooter that combines player-versus-player combat with exploration and survival elements. It’s often described as an “extraction shooter.” In practice, that means you venture into dangerous zones, grab loot, and try to escape (extract) before you’re eliminated.
Unlike traditional shooters, if you die in Marathon, you lose all the gear you carried into the match. This harsh penalty raises the stakes of every encounter. Matches pit teams of three players (called Runners) against other squads and environmental threats.
Bungie has confirmed that Marathon is a multiplayer game. There is no single-player campaign this time around, a departure from the original ’90s Marathon games. However, the developers assure that there will be a rich, ongoing narrative delivered through seasonal updates and in-world lore. In short, it’s Bungie’s fresh take on competitive sci-fi shooters.
Marathon Platforms
Marathon is confirmed for release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. PC players will be able to access it through Steam (an official Steam store page is already live for wishlisting). Bungie revealed that cross-play will be fully supported. Therefore, PC and console players can squad up or face off together.
⚠️ The game will not be available on last-generation consoles like PS4 or Xbox One.
Additionally, Bungie said they will allow an opt-out for those who prefer not to be matched across PC and console. This ensures everyone is comfortable with their competitive environment. Moreover, cross-save functionality will let you carry your progress between platforms seamlessly.
Marathon Release Date
One of the most popular questions about Marathon the Game is “When is Marathon’s release date?” Bungie has officially announced that the Marathon launch will be on September 23, 2025.
This release date was revealed during a showcase event. Barring any delays, late September 2025 is when players worldwide can start running their missions in Marathon’s hostile world. After the release, endgame challenges, seasonal storytelling, ranked mode, and community events will follow.
Marathon Closed Alpha
To make a long story short, Bungie is involving the community early. The first Marathon closed alpha test begins in late April 2025 for players in North America. These alpha tests (and likely beta tests later on) will help Bungie gather feedback and fine-tune the game before launch. The Marathon alpha playtest codes are already available, and you can find all of them in our Marathon Alpha Codes article.
While not everyone will get into the initial playtest, the developers plan to run multiple testing phases. Keep an eye on official Marathon channels — Bungie sends invites via email, and you can find the latest updates on the Marathon Discord and website. For most players, the full experience will arrive at launch in September, but a lucky few will get a sneak peek through these tests.
Marathon Gameplay
On April 12, 2025, Bungie released a fascinating gameplay trailer that explained the setting, showed extensive and dynamic combat, and overall captured the attention of both the fan base and players unfamiliar with the project. Let’s dive deeper into the Marathon gameplay details and find out what to expect from the game.
How Does a Marathon Match Work?
In Marathon, you and two teammates drop into a hostile zone as a fireteam of three Runners. Each match is a PvPvE scenario. You’re not only competing against other player teams but also facing AI-controlled enemies that roam the environment.
Your goal is to scavenge valuable loot (weapons, tech, artifacts) scattered across one of three currently known maps and complete optional objectives (called contracts). Once you’ve grabbed what you can, you must reach an extraction point and escape alive. Keep in mind that if you get killed before extracting, you lose everything you collected during that run.
Matches are expected to last around 20-30 minutes and escalate as the clock runs down. The final moments often force remaining teams into a showdown over the last extraction zone. The core gameplay loop is all about risk vs reward. Do you grab one more piece of loot and risk an ambush, or head to safety early? That’s the kind of nail-biting choice Marathon will make you face each round.
Marathon Weapons
Marathon’s combat will feel familiar to FPS fans, especially those who’ve played Bungie’s past titles. Expect crisp gunplay and smooth movement created by a studio with decades of shooter experience.
You’ll find an array of Marathon sci-fi weapons. These range from reliable kinetic rifles and hand cannons to more exotic tech like arc blasters. Each Runner on your team can equip a loadout of firearms and gear before deploying. During a match, you might also loot higher-tier weapons or armor enhancements.
Marathon Runners Classes and Abilities
In Marathon Runners are the playable characters — essentially the game’s classes or heroes. Each Runner is a cybernetic mercenary with a distinct set of skills. In the latest gameplay reveal, we saw four Runner classes with unique Prime and Tactical abilities (think of these like an ultimate and a secondary skill) and a couple of passive traits. Here’s a quick overview of the known Runners:
- Blackbird
- Glitch
- Locus
- Void
Each Runner’s abilities define their role in a squad, and a balanced team can combine their strengths for powerful synergies. For example, Glitch can disable an enemy’s defenses while Locus moves in for the kill, or Blackbird’s drone can tag a rival team for Void to sneak up on.
Bungie has confirmed these classes are not rigid. You’ll likely be able to customize loadouts and perhaps tweak abilities via mods or gear. New Runners may also be added in future seasons.
Blackbird
Blackbird is a stealth-oriented infiltrator and is good at recon and target acquisition, and can help the team spot threats early.
- Prime Ability: “Echo Pulse” (reveals nearby enemies).
- Tactical: “Tracker Drone” (deploys a drone to scout or tag targets).
- Trait 1: Interrogation.
- Trait 2: Stalker Protocol.
Glitch
Glitch is definitely a tech-savvy disruptor; this character is primarily a support who can throw enemies off balance.
- Prime: “Amplify” (enhances team damage or ability effects temporarily).
- Tactical: “Disruptor” (short-circuits enemy shields or gear).
- Trait 1: Microjets.
- Trait 2: Power Slide.
Locus
Locus is a frontline assault specialist. We believe Locus is built for aggressive play and holding ground in firefights.
- Prime: “Search and Destroy” (marks a high-value target and boosts damage against it).
- Tactical: “Riot Barricade” (deployable cover or shield wall).
- Trait 1: Thruster.
- Trait 2: Tactical Sprint.
Void
Void — Can be described as a cunning ambush expert. As can be seen from the gameplay trailer, Void is good at confusion and flanking, and should be perfect for players who like to strike from the shadows.
- Prime: “Smoke Screen” (creates a large obscuring smoke field).
- Tactical: “Active Camo” (temporary invisibility).
- Trait 1: Shadow Dive.
- Trait 2: Shroud.
Marathon Factions
Bungie Marathon’s world is controlled by various powerful groups, and your Runner is essentially a mercenary taking jobs from them. The game features six factions at launch. Each faction will offer you contracts (missions or objectives) during matches, completing which will grant you unique rewards.
The known Marathon factions are:
- Cyberacme
- Arachne
- Sekiguchi
- MIDA
- Traxus
- NuCal
📗 These Marathon the Game factions are a mix of corporate, military, and clandestine organizations operating around Tau Ceti IV.
In a match, you might find terminals or items tied to these factions. Accepting a faction’s contract could be something like securing a specific artifact or eliminating a target. If you complete these side objectives successfully, you will gain reputation with that faction.
Progression in Marathon will be tied to this faction’s reputation system. Bungie indicated this faction system is a big part of Marathon’s seasonal progression. Each season may introduce new contracts or even entirely new factions, expanding the game’s story and options. The faction system is a reason to keep playing and improving, even if you occasionally lose your loot, because your standing with these factions persists and grows.
Marathon Lore
Marathon events take place in the year 2893 on the distant planet of Tau Ceti IV. Players enter this lore as Runners arrive on Tau Ceti IV to scavenge the ruins of the colony and claim the remaining loot.
You don’t need any prior knowledge of the old trilogy to enjoy the action in this reboot. Bungie has emphasized that storytelling in Marathon will be mostly environmental and seasonal. There isn’t a traditional single-player story campaign, but there is an evolving narrative that unfolds through updates and world events.
Each season will bring new story elements, cinematics, or in-game discoveries to push the tale forward. These updates might reveal what happened to the missing colonists or unveil new threats lurking on Tau Ceti IV. You might even discover clues in the environment.
Marathon the Game FAQ
Lots of questions about Marathon arise daily and will continue to appear before the release of the game. Therefore, in this section of our guide, we have gathered all the most popular questions about the game and answered each of them.
Is Marathon a Sequel or a Reboot of the old Marathon Games?
Marathon (2025) is rather a spiritual remake set in the same continuity as the original 1990s Marathon trilogy. It is not a direct continuation in terms of advancing that narrative and plays quite differently (as multiplayer-only).
But Marathon does retain some theme and lore elements (like the Marathon ship and the name “Marathon”). New players don’t need to have prior knowledge about the old history, but fans of the die-hard Bungie franchise will notice some Easter eggs and referential elements.
Will Marathon Have a Single-Player or Campaign Mode?
No, Marathon will be a multiplayer-only experience. Bungie has confirmed there is no dedicated single-player campaign. The focus is on PvP and co-op/PvE elements within each match. Storytelling will happen through multiplayer gameplay and seasonal content rather than standalone story missions.
Is Marathon Free-to-Play?
As of now, Bungie has not announced the monetization model for Marathon. It’s not yet confirmed if the game will be free-to-play or sold as a paid title. Given Bungie’s history with Destiny 2 (which is free-to-play with expansions and season passes), some speculate Marathon could adopt a similar model — but that is only speculation. We’ll have to wait for official word on whether there’s an upfront cost.
How Many Players Can Play Together in Marathon?
In Marathon, you will play in three-player squads. Each team (fireteam) consists of up to 3 Runners. Multiple teams compete in a match (exact numbers can vary by map, but generally around 5-6 teams, meaning roughly 15-18 players per match).
You can team up with 2 friends or let the game matchmake you with teammates. There is no solo mode at launch. The game is balanced for trios, though nothing stops a daring player from dropping in alone.
Does Marathon Support Cross-Play and Cross-Save?
Yes. Marathon will fully support cross-play between PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, so players on different platforms can play together or against each other. If you prefer not to mix with other platforms, Bungie is providing an opt-out for cross-platform matchmaking.
The game also supports cross-save, meaning your account progress (characters, gear, stats) will carry over if you switch platforms. You could start playing on PlayStation and later continue on PC without losing progress, and vice versa.
What is an “Extraction Shooter” in Marathon?
An extraction shooter is a subgenre of shooter games where the objective is not just to score kills but to survive and escape with loot. In Marathon’s case, after you drop into the map and gather equipment or complete contracts, you need to reach a designated extraction point to safely “extract.” Therefore, it secures your loot and counts as a successful run. If you die before extracting, you lose the loot you found.
This gameplay is similar to titles like Escape from Tarkov or Hunt: Showdown. We also know this type of game as battle royale games. Marathon brings this concept into a sci-fi setting and adds Bungie’s own twists.
Will Marathon Have Seasons or Updates?
Absolutely. Marathon will be a live service game with seasonal updates. Each season will likely introduce new content — possibly new maps, new Runner classes, additional weapons, lore bits, and gameplay improvements. Bungie has mentioned a “season-to-season story,” so you can expect narrative developments with each season as well.
Can You Customize Your Runner or Loadout?
While detailed customization info is still under wraps, Bungie has indicated that players will have ways to personalize their experience. You will choose one of the Runner classes to play. Within that class, you’ll likely be able to customize your loadout (weapons and gear) and possibly your character’s appearance.
You can also expect to earn or unlock various weapons and tech. That means two players using the same Runner class might still bring different equipment into a match. There will likely be skins or armor variants to make your Runner look unique.
All in all, Marathon the Game combines Bungie’s signature combat feel with the high-pressure strategy of extraction shooters. This Marathon The Game overview should prepare you for what’s to come. You now know the game’s core loop, the factions you can align with, and much more. Gear up, gather your fireteam, and get ready to dive into the world of Tau Ceti IV.
