Marathon was supposed to be released later this month, but in June, the game was delayed considerably to allow Bungie to recover from some struggles that arose from the alpha playtests. It was always going to be tough to release a game weighed down by accusations of art theft and suffering from ‘a morale free fall‘.
The game is now undergoing further tests that are guarded by an NDA, but of course, that hasn’t stopped content from leaking online. Recently, those leaks included information about a new runner, fresh maps, and some upgrades made over previous versions of the ‘social extraction shooter’.
NDA Denied
Users participating in the latest Marathon tests have been slipping tidbits of information out from within the inner circle, NDA or no. On social media, one user picked up on the leaks and started propagating them before being promptly crushed by Bungie’s DMCA strikes and being forced to relinquish all posts.
That didn’t stop the details emerging, though.
First, eagle-eyed gamers recognized a UI update that has evolved certain menus, such as the main factions screen. This fragment also revealed that all six of Marathon’s core factions are playable in this test. It was also noted that a ‘total visual overhaul’ has been rendered upon these factions, including an intro cinematic for each faction that offers a little backstory.
Then there’s the new runner, ‘Icon’. This character has already been teased by Bungie, but the latest leaks have revealed a deeper description of this character. In one report, it was claimed that Icon works like Pathfinder from Apex Legends and has a drone that can auto-loot enemies.
Finally, details about new maps emerged, such as a breakdown of a hazardous environment that has burning sparks raining from the sky. In the latest playtest, users were reportedly able to access a map set on the UESC Marathon starship, which marks a first for the game.
Today, a month-long Marathon playtest begins, and Bungie has reportedly mandated that users must play for at least one hour a day. If they go the distance, they’ll earn a $500 reward.
Are you still interested in Marathon? Let me know your thoughts about the game on the Insider Gaming forum.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out why Bethesda was angry at the launch of Fallout 76
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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