Marathon is Bungie’s ambitious and energetic extraction shooter, poised to disrupt a relatively tired genre that has been dominated by a single game for far too long. The team at Bungie has worked tirelessly over several years to produce a remarkably unique title that might not look like a typical extraction shooter, but it definitely plays like one.
Read on to learn everything we know about Marathon, including the game’s release date, gameplay loop, extraction shooter model, and when the closed alpha will take place.
What is Marathon?
Marathon is a first-person shooter built around an extraction model. That means that players kit up, enter a map, and fight to survive against other players and AI enemies. They’ll complete tasks, loot items, and try to stay alive, as death means failure and the loss of everything they’ve acquired.
Extraction shooters are typically intense and very challenging, but Marathon will have a much more ‘arcade-style’ aesthetic and operating model. It’ll utilise fast-paced movement mechanics and powerful abilities to make it stand apart from the milsim extraction shooters we’re used to seeing.
When is Marathon Coming Out?
Marathon’s release date was revealed as being September 23, 2025. The price of Marathon hasn’t been confirmed just yet, but we know it’s not going to be free. It might cost something in the region of $40.
When is the Marathon Alpha?
The Bungie team revealed that the closed alpha for Marathon starts on April 23, 2025. It’ll start as an invite-only event, with passes being allocated to specific users. From there, priority codes will be issued, and those who access the alpha will be able to invite two friends.
If you want to access the alpha, it begins with jumping into the Marathon Discord server and completing a survey.
Is Marathon Coming to Console?
Most extraction shooters are only released on PC platforms, but we already know that Marathon is coming to Xbox and PlayStation. This was known ahead of the grand reveal that took place on April 12.
What Does Marathon Gameplay Look Like?
Marathon’s gameplay loop is typical for an extraction shooter. Players start their game up and load out as they see fit, equipping weapons, upgrades, shields, grenades, attachments, and more. They’ll pick a ‘Runner’, a cybernetic individual with unique perks and skills, and then they’ll pick a map.
From there, it’s a fight to survive, with players exploring the map they’ve chosen, trying to complete tasks and successfully win their fights to eventually get the chance to leave the map.
Here’s a deep dive into Marathon’s gameplay:
Are you looking forward to exploring Marathon’s alpha, or will you wait for the full game to be released in September? Let me know what you think in the comments, or hit up the Insider Gaming forum to chat with the community.
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