Finally, Bungie’s new project, Marathon, has a release date. The extraction shooter, a new version of the studio’s classic 1990s series, will come out on March 5 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It will cost $39.99. For Bungie, this launch is a big deal because it’s the first time they’ve released a new intellectual property since Destiny 2 in 2017.
This news will be helpful for fans who have followed the game’s development since it was first announced. Marathon is a planned new version of its namesake. The first report from Mashable said that the 2025 version is very different from the 1994 version, which was a linear, story-driven first-person shooter. The new Marathon is definitely a player-versus-player-versus-environment (PvPvE) extraction shooter.
Players play as “Runners” in three-person teams in 2850. The main loop involves diving into dangerous areas to find loot while dodging AI-controlled enemies and other player teams. As in Escape from Tarkov, success depends on getting artifacts and leaving the match safely.
How the Marathon was made and how it got started
There was a significant delay in the March release of Marathon. Originally, the game was supposed to come out in September, but it was pushed back after an alpha playtest in June. Engadget wrote about the test results, which showed problems such as a messy user interface, unexciting gunplay, and a pace that felt slow compared to other games in the competitive extraction shooter genre.
Bungie explained that the delay was necessary to fix core systems rather than release an incomplete game. A plagiarism scandal slowed development when an independent artist noticed similarities in the game’s art. Social media posts by the artist indicated that a favorable deal with Bungie and Sony was in place by December 2025.
This release means a lot to many people. The gaming industry will be watching closely to see whether Bungie’s version of the extraction shooter can keep players interested after other popular multiplayer games launch. Marathon’s success will test the studio’s ability to grow beyond its long-running Destiny universe.
