Bungie’s Marathon: What To Expect In The Extraction Shooter

Bungie revealed gameplay for Marathon for the first time this weekend, setting the release date for Sept. 23, 2025.

On Saturday, April 12, Bungie held a special showcase revealing gameplay from its upcoming team-based extraction shooter Marathon. The developers premiered alpha gameplay of the tactical and fast-paced FPS, explored the mysterious and cutthroat world of Tau Ceti IV, and discussed how to join the Marathon closed alpha test, which begins April 23 and runs until May 4.

During the showcase, Bungie announced the game will launch on Sept. 23, 2025, on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with full cross-play and cross-save support. The creators hope to shake up the extraction shooter genre, where others have failed to compete with the current king, Escape From Tarkov.

What is the World of Marathon?

In Marathon, players inhabit a Runner—a cybernetic mercenary scouring the remains of a lost colony on Tau Ceti IV in search of fortune and power. Players team up in crews of three as they battle rival Runner teams and hostile security forces for weapons and upgrades. Survive, and everything they’ve scavenged is theirs to keep for future runs on Tau Ceti IV—or, if they’re brave enough, a journey to the derelict Marathon ship that hangs above.

Gameplay

What stood out in Bungie’s Marathon gameplay showcase livestream was the debut of a cinematic introduction and a gameplay overview. The developers and videos offered an extended look at the extraction shooter skirmishes fans can expect in the upcoming alpha.

Marathon is designed for three-person teams, but players can disable autofill and queue as a solo or duo. Choose from a roster of cybernetic mercenaries with unique abilities. Players can customize their Runner’s playstyle with the weapons, implants and equipment they collect during runs. Strategize, execute and become Tau Ceti’s most feared mercenary.

Runners are Marathon’s character classes, each equipped with a Prime and Tactical ability, plus two traits. A Runner’s kit is built around distinct playstyles and fulfills a role in the squad—such as providing ally support through intel or silently stalking enemies.

Here is a list of the four Runners available in the upcoming alpha, launching April 23, along with their abilities:

The developers noted that they want the game to be a “social extraction experience,” but there is currently no proximity chat or alternative solution in place. They expressed concerns about excessive flaming. Realistically, toxic players will always be present, so the absence of proximity chat in a game meant to encourage social interaction raises some questions about Bungie’s messaging.

The Setting

Welcome to Tau Ceti IV, a lost colony whose inhabitants vanished without a trace. Rival factions now compete for the resources left behind, hiring Runners who’ve given up their human forms for biosynthetic shells. Death is merely a hurdle in this cutthroat competition, where power, fortune and answers to Tau Ceti IV’s mysteries hang in the balance.

The year is 2893. You and other Runners are fighting for scraps on Tau Ceti IV. The 30,000 people who once lived in the colony have mysteriously disappeared, and few resources remain. What happened to them remains unclear, but distant messages and shoddy coverups suggest the UESC isn’t telling the full story.

The Runners—humans who traded their physical bodies for biosynthetic prints—dominate what’s left of the planet in a race for riches. Factions employ Runners, and you’ll uncover more about their motivations and interests over time. Bungie confirmed that its narrative will unfold through seasonal storytelling, much like Destiny and its expansions.

Marathon Factions

A Runner’s day-to-day revolves around which factions they pick up contracts for, with different incentives tied to each. You can build reputation with any of Marathon’s secretive organizations, unlocking passive perks from that group throughout the season. So far, six factions have been revealed: Cyberacme, Arachne, Sekiguchi, MIDA, Traxus and NuCal. The loop centres on grabbing loot and turning it over to factions in exchange for future upgrades.

Marathon Alpha Maps & Maps Expected At Launch

Knowing the maps puts a player above the rest. Currently, four maps will be featured at launch but two of them will be coming to the alpha. Here is a list of maps coming to the alpha and at launch in September:

• Perimeter – a woody, five-crew map
• Dire Marsh – a more open, six-crew battlefield
• Outpost – a close-quarters map
• UESC Marathon ship – not much is known yet

Sign-ups have already begun for Marathon’s first closed alpha test, and you can join the official Marathon Discord for a chance to play. Bungie plans on hosting more playtesting opportunities, so there is no need to get in your feels if you miss the first round of playtests. The release date is a ways off.

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