Bungie has released a “Save the Date” trailer for their upcoming game Marathon, giving players a glimpse of what’s to come and announcing the first gameplay reveal for April 12 at 10 AM PT.
The brief teaser showcases the striking art direction and atmospheric sound design that Bungie hopes will set their extraction shooter apart from competitors.
Marathon represents a big step for Bungie, reviving one of their classic IPs from the 1990s but reimagining it in an entirely new genre.
While the original Marathon games were story-driven first-person shooters known for their innovative narrative, the new version transforms the concept into an extraction shooter—a genre that combines PvE elements with the tension of PvP combat.
For those unfamiliar with the concept, extraction shooters task players with entering a hostile environment, collecting valuable loot, and successfully extracting before being killed by AI enemies or other players.
Titles like Escape from Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown have built dedicated fanbases, but the genre hasn’t yet produced a mainstream hit on the scale of Fortnite or Call of Duty.
That’s where Bungie’s expertise could make a difference. The studio behind Halo and Destiny is renowned for its exceptional gunplay and ability to create memorable gaming moments. Despite recent challenges, including layoffs and management restructuring following Sony’s acquisition, many developers from the Destiny team have shifted to work on Marathon.
The teaser follows what fans described as a “fun mess” of an Alternate Reality Game (ARG), where the community solved puzzles and followed clues to ultimately unlock the trailer. This community engagement strategy has been a Bungie hallmark since the days of Halo 2‘s famous “I Love Bees” campaign.
How much will Marathon cost?
While excitement builds for the April reveal, questions remain about Marathon‘s business model. Industry rumors suggest a $40 entry price with additional deluxe editions, though Bungie hasn’t confirmed these details.
What’s certain is that the game represents Bungie’s first major new offering since becoming part of the Sony family, making its success particularly important for the studio’s future.
The resurrection of the Marathon name brings expectations from longtime fans, while the shift to the extraction shooter format shows Bungie’s willingness to evolve with gaming trends. Whether the studio can bring its signature polish to a notoriously challenging genre remains to be seen when gameplay finally debuts on April 12.
