Bungie Reveals Marathon Details Ahead of Closed Alpha and September Release

After a long stretch of silence following its initial 2023 reveal, Bungie has reintroduced Marathon to the public with a new round of trailers, developer commentary, and the announcement of a closed alpha. The game—an extraction shooter with roots in Bungie’s 1994 classic of the same name—is scheduled for release on September 23, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with full cross-play support.

Here’s a clear breakdown of what’s been shared so far and what players can expect.

What Marathon Is: Gameplay and Structure

At its core, Marathon is an extraction-based shooter, a genre in which players enter a match to collect loot, complete objectives, and attempt to escape with their gear intact. Unlike traditional deathmatch or arena-based shooters, death in an extraction shooter often results in the loss of all items a player brought into the match.

Players in Marathon take on the role of “Runners”—cybernetic mercenaries deployed on the colony of Tau Ceti IV. Matches will be built around three-player teams, with up to 18 players per match depending on the map. Players must locate loot, complete contracts for in-game factions, and extract successfully to keep their equipment. Death means dropping everything, including gear brought into the match.

At launch, Marathon will include three maps, with a fourth—titled Marathon—planned for post-release. The game features a stylized, colorful art direction and blends PvE (non-player enemies) with PvP (other player squads) encounters.

Closed Alpha Details

The closed alpha is scheduled to begin on April 23, with access granted through an invite process:

• Interested players must join the Marathon Discord server and complete a survey.

• Priority codes may be issued, but Bungie states that even with one, entry is not guaranteed.

• Codes are region-locked, with PlayStation alpha codes only working in North and South America.

• Players selected for the alpha will receive two additional codes to share with friends.

• All participants must agree to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), limiting what can be shared publicly during the test.

Not Free-to-Play

Despite industry trends, Marathon will not be free-to-play. While Bungie has not announced a price, they confirmed to Polygon that the game will carry an upfront cost. Monetization beyond the initial purchase—such as cosmetics, expansions, or seasonal content—has not yet been detailed.

Additional Media and Production

As part of the reveal, Bungie premiered a cinematic short directed by Alberto Mielgo, known for The Windshield Wiper and work on Love, Death & Robots and Into the Spider-Verse. The short offers a stylized look at the game’s universe and themes, presenting scenes of combat and clone-based resurrection systems.

The game’s latest trailer and a narrated overview, voiced by Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI, Balatro), outline the structure of the game’s world and the nature of being a Runner in Tau Ceti IV.

Key Points So Far

• Gameplay Model: Extraction shooter with PvPvE elements.

• Player Structure: Teams of three, with 18 players per match.

• Setting: Sci-fi colony on Tau Ceti IV.

• Closed Alpha: Begins April 23, invite-only, NDA enforced.

• Launch Date: September 23, 2025.

• Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (cross-play supported).

• Business Model: Not free-to-play; pricing unannounced.

Summary

Bungie is positioning Marathon as a full-scale entry into the extraction shooter space, aiming to offer something distinct in terms of both presentation and mechanics. However, as with any pre-release title, especially one in a competitive and evolving genre, the actual gameplay experience remains to be seen. The upcoming closed alpha will likely be the first significant opportunity to evaluate how Marathon plays and whether it resonates with its target audience.

Until then, the best approach is to monitor how the alpha is received, what Bungie chooses to refine, and how the studio communicates its ongoing plans leading up to release.