Bungie is set to unveil more details about its highly anticipated PvP extraction shooter, Marathon, through an exciting gameplay livestream scheduled for this Saturday, April 12 (or Sunday, April 13, depending on your global location). This event marks a significant milestone for fans eagerly awaiting updates since the game's announcement.
The excitement began last week when Bungie posted a cryptic tweet featuring a 15-second video that sent fans into a frenzy, sparking an "extensive alternative reality game." Enthusiasts quickly noticed that the ASCII art in the video contained a snippet of footage from the initial trailer, specifically showing a runner sprinting down a hall. Another intriguing message surfaced: "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."
Bungie acknowledged the community's efforts, stating, "Thousands of community members across the world worked together to unlock the gameplay reveal date for Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter Marathon." 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).
First revealed in May 2023, Marathon is a reboot of the classic Bungie franchise, infusing themes of "mysteries, eeriness, and psychological creepiness." The game is set on the enigmatic planet of Tau Ceti IV, where players will embody Runners, cybernetic mercenaries engineered to endure the planet's unforgiving conditions. The gameplay involves exploring a lost colony to scavenge for valuable loot, including new weapons and gear.
Since its initial reveal, information on Marathon has been sparse. An October development update provided insights into the game's mechanics, yet emphasized that it was still in the early stages of development. Amidst this, the gaming industry has seen shifts, notably with Sony reevaluating its focus on live-service games after canceling the live-service shooter Concord. In November 2023, Sony's president Hiroki Totoki announced that the company would launch only six out of the planned 12 live service games by March 2026, indicating the cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer game.
Bungie has faced its own challenges, including significant layoffs. In July 2024, the company laid off 220 staff members, representing 17% of its workforce, following 100 other layoffs less than a year prior. Additionally, former Marathon director Chris Barrett was allegedly 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 into the official Marathon Twitch channel on April 12.
