Marathon is launching in September, and it’s Bungie’s first brand-new IP in over a decade. This is a full-blown extraction shooter, Bungie’s take on a genre that’s typically difficult and full of friction. From what they’ve shown so far, Marathon looks clean, distinct and high-performant.
Typical extraction shooters have a steep learning curve. Marathon, on the other hand, is designed to be approachable. Will Marathon hit the right balance of friction and approachability? Enough to challenge experienced players, but easy enough to bring in a broader audience?
Whether Marathon manages to balance between catering to hard core players while still being approachable enough to new players is what makes it interesting.
The game’s headed to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles, and PC. Crossplay and cross-save enabled. It features squad-based PvP gameplay, tight gun mechanics, and a visual style that sets it apart from just about everything else in the genre. The usual Bungie trademarks—snappy movement, tactile weapons, futuristic art—are all here. Bungie is owned by Sony, but there will be no PlayStation Network requirement on PC for Marathon. Would you look at that, they have learned.
What Kind of Game Is Marathon?
You play as a Runner—part of a cybernetic crew competing for resources on the planet Tau Ceti IV. It’s a three-person squad-based shooter, where the objective isn’t just kills—it’s survival. Players drop into large maps to scavenge gear, complete contracts, and extract before getting wiped out by other squads.
Maps are populated with AI bots, plus some bigger, badder AI bots, and six player squads in total. That amounts to 18 human players, provided that number doesn’t change before launch. Maps vary in size, with some supporting up to 18 players.
Death means losing everything you’ve collected in that run (and game). That’s the core loop.
There are also hero-style characters, each with unique traits and passives. I think these “sponsored” loadouts are made to help new players with gear and skills. You can also choose a loadout based on what you’ve extracted in earlier runs. There are also factions that offer progression, reputation, and rewards.
Marathon Pricing: $40?
Marathon isn’t free-to-play. Bungie has confirmed it will be a premium title—but not full-price. Based on industry trends, expect something mid-tier—around $40. That puts it in the same range as Helldivers 2, Remnant 2, and the now-dead Concord.
We can also expect battle passes or additional monetary transactions from your wallet to Bungie for skins or other cosmetics.
Is that smart? Will the internet bring its pitchforks or review bombing? Only time will tell.
Marathon will be a premium title. Marathon will not be a ‘full-priced’ title.
— Marathon (@MarathonTheGame) April 12, 2025
We’ll announce details this Summer. https://t.co/mbK1vfFLKo
Marathon Releases in September
The game launches on September 23—right in the middle of a competitive autumn launch window. A new Call of Duty is expected in October, on Game Pass. Bungie is stepping into a crowded, autumn-colored field.
…and Alpha Later in April
They will also be running an alpha later in April—from April 23rd to May 4th. You can sign up through their Discord.
Note that the Alpha requirements are being over 18 and living in North America. I check only one of those two boxes, but I’ll sign up anyway, I’ll take my chances.
Will This Plan Succeed?
Extraction shooters usually reward pain tolerance. Friction is part of what makes them compelling—learning mechanics through trial and error, time, and playing with your friends.
Bungie seems to be flipping that: building a polished, controller-first experience with a shorter onboarding and smoother progression.
The question is: can Marathon hit that sweet spot—enough friction to make extractions feel rewarding, while still being easy and welcoming to new players?
Marathon’s Art
Personally I really like the art style. It’s distinct—bright neon colors, bold shapes, and immediately recognizable. Even in early builds, from the very start, the design was sharp and distinct. Environments look good, and the post-civilization, future-dystopian world has its own appeal.
Destiny’s art direction was in a league of its own—something I still think about from time to time. I want to go back there. Marathon’s art is different, and it doesn’t have the same impact to as Destiny’s, yet. That might change after actually playing the game.
As part of the recent marketing push, they also released a cinematic directed by Alberto Mielgo, who has previously worked on Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and Love, Death & Robots. We shouldn’t read too much into the cinematic trailer though—it’s marketing. It’s meant to generate hype.
Final Thoughts
We don’t know everything about Marathon yet, but what Bungie’s shown is promising. It’s a confident entry into a genre that still hasn’t gone fully mainstream. The timing is bold, and so is the pricing. The format is unfamiliar for a studio that built its name on campaign storytelling and PvE grinds.
This is Bungie aiming for something new, they want to figure out Extraction shooters.
I’ve played Destiny. I know how good Bungie is at making combat feel good. I know how striking their worlds can be. If they can bring that same feel to Marathon and build a PvP loop that holds up over time, this could be one of the most interesting shooter releases in 2025.
We’ll see how it holds up come September.