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

Bungie took to the spotlight again with a livestream on Saturday to give gamers a fresh look at their upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon. Although the game was first introduced to us back in May 2023, the announcements have been sparse since then. With the game’s launch fast approaching on September 23, Bungie is now ready to spill the beans on everything Marathon-related.

The presentation kicked off with a snappy intro and a vibrant trailer, setting the tone for what’s to come. Among the highlights was an in-depth chat with some of the minds behind the game, who shared fascinating details about what players can expect. All eyes were on a more detailed trailer, enriched by the voice narration of Ben Starr, well-known for his roles in Final Fantasy 16 and Balatro, which broke down the mechanics of Marathon.

In this futuristic adventure, players assume the role of Runners—a blend of bio-cybernetic mercenaries. You’ll team up with two other players to dive into various terrains on Tau Ceti IV, embarking on quests for valuable loot and faction contracts.

Once on the ground, the mission involves scouring for treasures and fulfilling tasks, all while keeping a wary eye out for other players. The thrill of the game includes confronting rivals to snag their loot. But be careful—extracting safely with your findings means keeping those spoils, whereas meeting a grim fate results in dropping everything, including gear brought along to the battleground.

The unveiling wrapped up with a captivating short film set in the Marathon universe. The film, crafted by Alberto Mielgo—the acclaimed artist behind the Oscar-winning “The Windshield Wiper”—illustrates the intense world these Runners navigate. Mielgo, known for his work on “Love, Death & Robots” and “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” gives a glimpse into their brutal and thrilling existence. The film cleverly intersperses their daring escapades with scenes resonating with the Voight-Kampff test from Blade Runner.

Marathon is slated for release on PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X, despite Bungie being under Sony’s umbrella since early 2022. Players itching for an early experience can sign up for the Marathon alpha test starting April 23.

While Bungie didn’t reveal the game’s price during the livestream, a spokesperson confirmed to Polygon that Marathon won’t be a free-to-play title; instead, it will come with an upfront cost. The exact pricing details remain under wraps, as does Bungie’s approach to any potential post-launch monetization strategies.