At the 2023 PlayStation Showcase, Bungie announced the revival of Marathon, its 1994 sci-fi first-person shooter. However, due to a turbulent development, the release date for the title is now uncertain.
Ever since its announcement in May 2023, impressions surrounding Marathon have been negative. In October 2023, the game was reportedly delayed due to the layoff of multiple Bungie employees.
A month later, the title was said to have failed among playtesters, as no one raised their hand when asked if they would play it if it were released tomorrow.
Despite the loss of approximately 40% of its workforce in a single day on July 31, 2024, Bungie’s future remained uncertain as fans feared for the future of the Destiny series and questioned if the same uncertainty extended to the Marathon franchise.
Does Marathon have a release date?
Despite the lack of a set release date, Marathon’s potential delay has only added to the uncertainty surrounding its launch date. However, a rough estimate of 2025 has been given.
Platforms
Marathon is being developed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and will feature full cross-play and cross-save capabilities.
Trailer
The initial and single trailer displayed a quick look at a battle being fought on a distant planet.
Marathon Gameplay Details and Leaks
The setting of the game is a planet where 30,000 individuals have vanished without a trace. It is a science fiction PvP extraction shooter that requires players to battle for survival, wealth, and recognition.
The game’s website provided a brief description of what fans could anticipate. It stated, “As a runner, you will embark on a journey into uncharted territory, competing for both fame and notoriety. Who will etch their name among the stars?”
The Marathon series, which released in 1994, is a follow-up to one of Bungie’s earliest shooters with the same name. It predates Halo by almost ten years and is one of the earliest examples of a first-person shooter, coming before the release of the original Doom in December 1993.
Additionally, there is little information available about the upcoming title and its connection to the original game remains a mystery.
During the Friends Per Second podcast on Aug. 9, Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier was questioned about the current state of the game and unfortunately had no positive news to share.
According to Schreier, the game has not received positive reviews. The fact that it was initially planned for release this year but was postponed by a year suggests there may be underlying issues with its development.
“Those with whom I have spoken seem to have a slightly pessimistic view about the project meeting its current planned deadline, but only time will tell,”he remarked.
Fans will have to wait for an official update from Bungie, as there is currently no other information available.
Leave a Reply