Bungie is set to unveil more details about its highly anticipated PvP extraction shooter, Marathon, during an exciting gameplay livestream scheduled for this Saturday, April 12 (or Sunday, April 13, depending on your location).
The buzz started last week when Bungie teased fans with a cryptic tweet featuring a 15-second video that sparked an "extensive alternative reality game." Enthusiasts quickly dove into the ASCII art within the video, uncovering a snippet from the initial trailer that showed a runner sprinting down a hall. Adding to the intrigue, another message emerged: "WHEN WILL HE RETURN ERROR ERROR ERROR HAS OCCURRED THE ENEMY RETURNED SYSTEM WARNING: PROTOCOL BREACH EVACUATE THE BASE IMMEDIATELY ALL UNITS REPORT TO STATION INITIATE EMERGENCY PROTOCOL 7 DATA LOSS IMMINENT GOOD LUCK, COMMANDER."
"Thousands of community members across the world worked together to unlock the gameplay reveal date for Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter Marathon," Bungie stated. The livestream is scheduled for 10 am PDT (San Francisco) / 1 pm EDT (New York) / 6 pm BST (London) / 7 pm CEST (Berlin/Paris) / 9 pm GST (Dubai) or Sunday, April 13 at 2 am JST (Tokyo) / 3 am AEST (Sydney) / 5 pm NZST (Auckland).
Marathon was first revealed in May 2023 as a reboot of the classic Bungie franchise, embracing themes of "mysteries, eeriness, and psychological creepiness." Set on the enigmatic planet Tau Ceti IV, players will take on the roles of Runners, cybernetic mercenaries designed to endure the planet's harsh conditions. As they explore the remnants of a lost colony, players will hunt for valuable loot, including new weapons and gear.
Since the initial announcement, updates have been sparse. A development update in October provided insight into Marathon's mechanics, although Bungie emphasized that the game was still in its early stages.
In related news, Sony's shift in focus on live-service games has led to significant changes. Following the abrupt cancellation of the live-service shooter Concord, Sony president Hiroki Totoki announced in November 2023 that the company would launch only six of the 12 planned live-service games by March 2026. This shift also resulted in the cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer game.
Bungie itself has faced its share of challenges. In July 2024, the company laid off 220 staff members, representing 17% of its workforce, following another round of 100 layoffs less than a year prior. Additionally, former Marathon director Chris Barrett was reportedly fired after an internal misconduct investigation, leading to a lawsuit against Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie for over $200 million.
To catch the Marathon gameplay reveal live, tune in to the official Marathon Twitch channel on April 12.
