Bungie has officially unveiled the first extended look at its upcoming title Marathon through a dedicated Gameplay Reveal Showcase. The livestream, broadcast from Bungie headquarters over the weekend, featured commentary from key members of the development team, including Game Director Joe Ziegler, Franchise Art Director Joseph Cross, Senior Design Lead Lars Bakken, Gameplay Director Andrew Witts, and Senior Social Media Manager Andy Salisbury.
The showcase served as a comprehensive update on the project, highlighting everything from game mechanics and player roles to narrative direction and early access opportunities. The most notable news is the announcement of a Closed Alpha Test, which will take place from April 23 to May 4, 2025. The full launch of Marathon is scheduled for September 23, 2025.
Players interested in joining the alpha test can sign up through Bungie’s official Discord server. The alpha is limited to players aged 18 and above and will only be available to residents in North America. According to Bungie, this test will focus on evaluating technical performance and gathering user feedback, and only a small group of players will be granted access. Additional test phases are expected later in development.
The livestream opened with a fast-paced trailer showcasing the game’s gunplay and visual design. Marathon blends competitive extraction-based gameplay with Bungie’s distinct sci-fi aesthetic. The trailer emphasized movement, dynamic combat scenarios, and customizable player characters known as “Runners.”
Bungie also discussed how Marathon fits within the studio’s legacy. While the game is not a direct remake, it is positioned as both a reimagining and a continuation of the original Marathon trilogy released in the 1990s. Narrative Director Julia Nardin explained that returning fans will see familiar elements, though events may unfold differently than in past titles. The aim is to build a persistent world that evolves over time, with new stories and gameplay content delivered across seasonal updates.
In an effort to tie the game’s story more closely to its community, Bungie premiered a cinematic short developed in collaboration with Alberto Mielgo, known for his work on Love, Death & Robots. The short takes viewers to the planet Tau Ceti and gives an early look at the narrative scope of the game, setting the tone for future in-game story development.
Marathon is being designed as a multiplayer-first experience, but Bungie emphasized that storytelling will play a major role. The team intends to deliver narrative content through various in-game activities, community events, and ARG-style (alternate reality game) interactions. The goal is to provide players with a world that feels alive and reactive to their actions.
With the reveal now complete, Bungie is preparing for the next phase in development. More information is expected to be released over the coming months, including deeper dives into weapons, maps, and seasonal content plans. Players can wishlist the game on Steam to stay updated and follow Bungie’s community channels for more details.
As Bungie works toward the September release, the studio is inviting feedback from early testers to help refine core systems. For those unable to participate in the Closed Alpha, additional public tests are anticipated, though no dates have been confirmed.
