Bungie is gearing up to unveil more details about its much-anticipated PvP extraction shooter, Marathon, with an exciting gameplay livestream scheduled for this Saturday, April 12 (or Sunday, April 13, depending on your location). Fans eager to see what's in store can mark their calendars 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).
The excitement kicked off last week when Bungie posted a mysterious tweet featuring a cryptic 15-second video, sparking a frenzy of speculation and sleuthing among fans. The video, part of an "extensive alternative reality game," contained ASCII art that hid "a snippet of footage from the initial trailer." Upon closer inspection, fans noticed it was "the runner sprinting down a hall from the trailer." Another intriguing message appeared: "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 praised the community's collaborative efforts, stating, "Thousands of community members across the world worked together to unlock the gameplay reveal date for Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter Marathon." This collective effort has heightened anticipation for the upcoming livestream.
Marathon was revealed in May 2023 as a reboot of the classic Bungie franchise, promising themes of "mysteries, eeriness, and psychological creepiness." Set on the mysterious planet of Tau Ceti IV, players will embody Runners, cybernetic mercenaries designed to withstand the planet’s harsh conditions. As they explore the remnants of a lost colony, they'll hunt for valuable loot, including new weapons and gear. Since its initial reveal, updates have been scarce, though a development video in October shed light on Marathon's mechanics, emphasizing the game's early stage of development.
In the broader gaming landscape, Sony's strategy has shifted following the abrupt cancellation of the live-service shooter Concord. In November 2023, Sony president Hiroki Totoki announced the company was committed to launching just six of the 12 live service games it was working on by March 2026. This adjustment led to the cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer game, signaling a strategic pivot in Sony's focus.
Bungie itself has faced its share of challenges. In July 2024, the company laid off 220 staff members—17% of its workforce—following 100 other layoffs at Bungie less than a year earlier. Additionally, former Marathon director Chris Barrett was allegedly fired after an internal misconduct investigation, leading to Barrett subsequently suing Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie for more than $200 million.
To catch the Marathon gameplay reveal live, tune in to the official Marathon Twitch channel on April 12. This event promises to be a significant milestone for fans eagerly awaiting more details on this thrilling new title.
