Bungie is gearing up to unveil more details about its highly anticipated PvP extraction shooter, Marathon, through an exciting gameplay livestream scheduled for this Saturday, April 12 (or April 13, depending on your global location). This event marks a significant moment for fans eagerly awaiting insights into the game's development.
The excitement began last week when Bungie posted a cryptic tweet featuring a 15-second video that sparked a frenzy among fans, leading to an "extensive alternative reality game." Enthusiasts quickly deciphered the ASCII art within the video, which included a snippet from the initial trailer showcasing a runner sprinting down a hall. Another intriguing element was a message that read: "WHEN WILL HE RETURN ERROR ERROR ERROR HAS OCCURRED THE ENEMY RETURNED SYSTEM WARNING: PROTOCOL BREACH EVACUATE THE BASE IMMEDIATELY ALL UNITS REPORT TO STATION INITIATE EMERGENCY PROTOCOL 7 DATA LOSS IMMINENT GOOD LUCK, COMMANDER."
Bungie acknowledged the global community's efforts, stating, "Thousands of community members across the world worked together to unlock the gameplay reveal date for Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter Marathon." The livestream is set to commence at 10 am PDT (San Francisco) / 1 pm EDT (New York) / 6 pm BST (London) / 7 pm CEST (Berlin/Paris) / 9 pm GST (Dubai) on Saturday, April 12, or on Sunday, April 13 at 2 am JST (Tokyo) / 3 am AEST (Sydney) / 5 pm NZST (Auckland).
First announced in May 2023, Marathon is a reboot of the classic Bungie franchise, bringing back themes of "mysteries, eeriness, and psychological creepiness." Set on the mysterious planet of Tau Ceti IV, players will take on the roles of Runners, cybernetic mercenaries engineered to endure the planet's harsh conditions. Their mission involves exploring a lost colony on the surface, scavenging for valuable loot, new weapons, and gear.
Despite the initial reveal, updates have been scarce. A development update video in October provided some insight into Marathon's mechanics, but emphasized the game's early development stage. Meanwhile, Sony's strategic shift away from live-service games, following the cancellation of Concord and The Last of Us multiplayer game, has impacted the industry. Sony president Hiroki Totoki announced in November 2023 that the company would focus on launching only six of the 12 live service games planned by March 2026.
Bungie has faced its own challenges, including significant layoffs. In July 2024, the company laid off 220 staff members, representing 17% of its workforce, less than a year after cutting 100 other positions. Additionally, former Marathon director Chris Barrett was allegedly fired following an internal misconduct investigation and subsequently sued Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie for over $200 million.
To catch the Marathon gameplay reveal live, tune into the official Marathon Twitch channel on April 12.
