Bungie is set to unveil more 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 time zone). This event promises to give fans a deeper look into the game that has been shrouded in mystery and anticipation since its reveal in May 2023.
The excitement kicked off last week when Bungie posted a cryptic tweet featuring a 15-second video that sent the community into a frenzy of speculation and investigation. This video was part of an "extensive alternative reality game" that engaged fans worldwide. Within the ASCII art of the video, players discovered a snippet from the initial trailer, specifically a scene of a runner sprinting down a hall. This discovery fueled further speculation and excitement.
Another intriguing message was uncovered: "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." This message added to the game's eerie and mysterious atmosphere, further engaging the community.
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 set for 10 am PDT (San Francisco) / 1 pm EDT (New York) / 6 pm BST (London) / 7 pm CEST (Berlin/Paris) / 9 pm GST (Dubai) on Saturday, April 12, or Sunday, April 13 at 2 am JST (Tokyo) / 3 am AEST (Sydney) / 5 am NZST (Auckland).
Marathon is a reboot of the classic Bungie franchise, introducing themes of "mysteries, eeriness, and psychological creepiness." Set on the mysterious planet of 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 its initial reveal, updates have been sparse. A development update video in October shed some light on the game's mechanics, but Bungie emphasized that the project was still in its early stages.
The gaming landscape has seen significant shifts, particularly with Sony's reevaluation of its live-service game strategy. Following the cancellation of the live-service shooter Concord, Sony's president Hiroki Totoki announced in November 2023 that the company would focus on launching only six of the 12 planned live-service games by March 2026. This shift also led to the cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer game.
Bungie has faced its own challenges, including significant layoffs. In July 2024, the studio laid off 220 staff members, representing 17% of its workforce, less than a year after another round of 100 layoffs. Additionally, former Marathon director Chris Barrett was reportedly fired following an internal misconduct investigation, leading to a lawsuit against Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie for over $200 million.
To catch the Marathon reveal live, tune in to the official Marathon Twitch channel on April 12.
