Remember Marathon? It's the next big project from Destiny developer Bungie, and it looks like we're on the brink of getting a deeper look into this much-anticipated game.
Marathon is shaping up to be a thrilling PvP-focused extraction shooter set on the enigmatic planet of Tau Ceti IV. Players step into the roles of Runners, cybernetically enhanced mercenaries engineered to withstand the planet's unforgiving conditions. Their mission? To explore the remnants of a lost colony on Tau Ceti's surface.
It's been a while since we last got an update on Marathon. Back in October, Bungie shared a comprehensive development video that delved into the game's mechanics, but emphasized that it was still in the early stages of development. At that time, player character models were still being refined, and enemy models were just beginning to take shape.
Now, half a year later, it seems Bungie is gearing up to unveil more about what they've been working on. A recent tweet from the official Marathon account teased fans with a cryptic image and a burst of garbled signal noise. Eagle-eyed fans spotted ASCII art depicting scenes from the debut Marathon trailer. Given Bungie's reputation for crafting mysterious teasers, hidden clues, and Easter eggs, it's no surprise that enthusiasts are already digging in to unravel the deeper meanings behind this teaser.
After a period marked by development challenges, it looks like Marathon is finally gaining momentum.
pic.twitter.com/6NBgIdRVK2
— Marathon (@MarathonTheGame) April 4, 2025
Marathon was first unveiled in May 2023 as a reboot of the iconic Bungie franchise, infused with themes of mystery, eeriness, and psychological tension. However, Bungie has faced its share of controversies recently. In July 2024, the studio made headlines by laying off 220 employees, representing 17% of its workforce—a move that drew criticism even from within the industry. This came less than a year after another round of layoffs affecting 100 staff members, with reports of a "soul-crushing" atmosphere at the studio.
Further turmoil emerged when a report surfaced weeks after the 220 job cuts, alleging that former Marathon director Chris Barrett was dismissed following an internal misconduct investigation at Bungie. Barrett later filed a lawsuit against Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie, seeking over $200 million in damages.
Amidst these challenges, Sony has been reevaluating its approach to live-service games. In November 2023, Sony president Hiroki Totoki announced a strategic shift, committing to launch only six of the twelve live-service games planned by March 2026. This decision led to the cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer game.
While Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 achieved remarkable success, selling 12 million copies in just 12 weeks to become the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game ever, other Sony live-service titles faced significant hurdles. Sony's Concord, for instance, was a major disappointment, barely lasting a few weeks before being taken offline due to extremely low player engagement. Eventually, Sony decided to terminate the game and close its developer.
Adding to the list of cancellations, Sony reportedly scrapped two unannounced live-service games earlier this year—one from Bluepoint, set in the God of War universe, and another from Bend Studio, known for Days Gone.
Are you excited for Marathon?
