Bungie Breaks Silence on Marathon but Leaves Fans Waiting for Gameplay
After over a year of radio silence, Bungie is finally giving a few more details about Marathon, its highly anticipated PvP extraction shooter inspired by the studio’s ‘90s classic. In a recent development update video, new game director Joe Ziegler offered a glimpse into the progress on Marathon, albeit without the eagerly anticipated gameplay footage fans were hoping for. Although there was no visual sneak peek, Ziegler did lay out a few intriguing elements that are shaping up behind the scenes.
Building on Marathon’s Legacy with Modern Flair
Ziegler begins by explaining the fundamental mechanics of Marathon as an extraction shooter, defining it as a game of high-stakes objectives, loot, and intense competition for resources. One of the central challenges of Marathon, as he notes, is to safely reach the extraction point with the gear you’ve collected along the way. Fail to extract, and you’ll lose everything you’ve gathered—putting a harder edge on the high-risk gameplay than in more casual extraction shooters.
“Players will need to assess their risk versus reward carefully,” Ziegler says, emphasizing that even seasoned players could find themselves pushed to the edge of their abilities if they’re not careful. According to him, these dynamics will create intense, unpredictable gameplay where each decision counts.
Character Development: Introducing “Thief” and “Stealth”
Ziegler also introduced two of Marathon’s playable characters, each of whom will bring unique abilities to the battlefield. The character codenamed “Thief” is reportedly capable of causing “hilarious” and “crazy” moments, though Bungie hasn’t elaborated on what those may be. The second character, “Stealth,” stays true to the name, offering abilities focused on evasion and concealment. Ziegler hints that players might find themselves surprised by how these character abilities alter traditional extraction shooter gameplay—especially with the diverse strategies that will emerge as players test and discover each one.
Progress Update: Where Is the Gameplay Footage?
Despite Bungie’s May 2023 promise to showcase gameplay when Marathon was ready, the team is holding back for now. Ziegler admits that, although the environments are “really, really beautiful,” player models and certain animations are still being refined. Bungie has conducted closed playtests with external players to gather valuable feedback, but a broader reveal may not come until next year.
“This kind of intensive feedback is what’s going to ensure Marathon hits the mark for our fans,” Ziegler says, noting that Bungie is putting in the time to test and tweak, especially given the game’s high player expectations and Bungie’s turbulent year.
Release Outlook and Testing Timeline
Bungie plans to continue testing throughout 2024, and Ziegler hints that a larger playtest phase could expand in 2025, possibly setting up a public beta closer to launch. Given the recent struggles within Bungie—mass layoffs, Destiny 2’s revenue challenges, and a canceled Destiny spin-off to shift resources to Marathon—Bungie and Sony are both prioritizing a methodical, player-centered approach, ensuring Marathon meets high standards before it’s released.
For fans, the wait continues, but Ziegler’s update and the promise of extended testing hint that Bungie is dedicated to getting Marathon right, even if it means more patience is required.
