Bungie Updates Marathon After Recent Layoffs

Bungie has been relatively silent about its forthcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, which is slated for release in 2025. In a developer update shared on Monday, the game director affirmed that development is ongoing, though they are not ready to divulge further information just yet.

During a nearly 10-minute update, director Joe Ziegler presented two new pieces of concept art—one featuring a character known as “Thief” (shown above) and another for a character dubbed “Stealth.” While Ziegler refrained from detailing the abilities or characteristics of these Runners, their names hint at distinctive gameplay styles.

Aside from the character reveals, the video readdresses the fundamental mechanics of the game, explores its connection to the original Marathon franchise, and provides a brief status update on its development. Ziegler indicated that progress is being made but noted that various components of the game are at different stages, which limits what can be shared at this point. The team aims to showcase more by mid-2025 as they expand playtesting to a larger group of players.

“Over the past couple of years, we’ve made significant revisions to the game and have been iterating extensively,” Ziegler explained. He mentioned that the environments are beginning to take shape, although character models are still under development. “Once everything comes together, we can’t wait to show you the final product,” he added.

In Marathon, players take on the role of a Runner tasked with exploring maps set on the planet Tau Ceti IV, completing objectives to ensure their survival. Each Runner boasts unique abilities and can be customized with various gear, but failing to extract means losing all accumulated items.

This game serves as a revival of one of Bungie’s first franchises, which launched in 1994 and thrived through the 1990s. According to Ziegler, the new Marathon will incorporate elements from the original title, including its eerie ambiance, while introducing a fresh narrative within a new universe.

Marathon was first unveiled during May 2023’s PlayStation Showcase, but further announcements have been sparse since then. Bungie is currently navigating some internal upheaval, including layoffs and restructuring linked to its parent company, Sony Interactive Entertainment. The studio is prioritizing efforts to enhance Destiny 2 and advance Marathon, while also working on an original sci-fi/fantasy action game.