Just days after teasing its return, Marathon is back—this time with a release date, alpha details, and a closer look at gameplay. During today’s Marathon Gameplay Reveal Showcase, Bungie confirmed that the sci-fi extraction shooter launches on September 23, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam, with full cross play and cross save at launch.
If you missed the initial reveal earlier this week, we’ve already covered how Bungie used an ARG to unlock the first gameplay showcase. But now we’ve got the full picture—including when you can play it. A Closed Alpha is set to begin on April 23, giving some players a chance to try the game well ahead of launch. Sign-ups are open now through the official Marathon Discord.
Closed Alpha Details and How to Join
Bungie isn’t wasting time getting Marathon into players’ hands. The Closed Alpha kicks off on April 23, and sign-ups are already live. It’s limited to North America for now and requires participants to be 18 or older. Join the official Marathon Discord, where Bungie’s team will distribute codes, host Q&As, and collect feedback.
This early test will include access to four of the game’s six planned Runners, each with unique abilities and playstyles. According to the team, the alpha will focus on core mechanics, build customization, and the feel of tactical team-based extraction. Bungie has also confirmed that more playtest opportunities are coming later in the year, so missing out now won’t mean missing out entirely.
Bungie also confirmed that Marathon will be a premium title, though it won’t be sold at a full-priced tier. More pricing details will be shared this summer.
What Marathon Gameplay Looks Like
Marathon is a squad-based extraction shooter that mixes Bungie’s tight FPS gunplay with survival elements and high-stakes decision-making. You play as a Runner, a cybernetic mercenary hired to scavenge the remnants of a lost colony on Tau Ceti IV. You’ll team up in crews of up to three, compete with rival Runners, and fight off corporate security forces and deadly wildlife while hunting for loot and information.
Every match supports up to 18 players, and features dynamic environments, shifting weather, and evolving objectives. Before each run, you’ll select a Runner and customize your loadout with weapons, implants, and gear. If your crew survives, you keep everything. If not, your gear is gone—but contract and faction progress still carries over.
The game also introduces sponsored kits and a black market system, making it easier to bounce back from failed runs. Bungie says these systems are meant to balance accessibility with the risk-reward loop that defines the genre.
Runners, Builds, and Customization
In Marathon, your Runner isn’t just a skin—they define how you play. At launch, there will be six Runners, with four available during the Closed Alpha: Locus, Blackbird, Glitch, and Void. Each has a different role, from stealth and disruption to recon and front-line assault.
What makes the system deeper is build crafting. As you play, you’ll collect implants, cores, and weapon attachments that change how your Runner performs. Some gear adds passive boosts, while rare items like gold mods can completely alter your abilities—like turning a double jump into a triple jump. Bungie describes these as the exotic-tier perks of the game.
Movement and abilities are also tied to a heat system. Actions like sprinting or using jet-assisted movement build up heat and limit stamina. You’ll need to manage resources carefully, making strategic decisions about when to move fast or hold back.
Even within the same Runner type, different gear setups can lead to wildly different strategies. Bungie confirmed that teams can double or triple up on Runners—so yes, you can roll in with three Blackbirds if you want to.
Storytelling, Seasons, and What’s Ahead
Bungie closed out the showcase with a surprise: the first official Marathon cinematic short. Written and directed by Alberto Mielgo (Love, Death & Robots), the short introduces a new layer of storytelling outside the game. It features a fully voiced cast, including Erica Lindbeck as Glitch, Elias Toufexis as Void, Nika Futterman, Donnla Hughes, and Ben Starr.
The short highlights Bungie’s goal of building a deeper narrative world both in and out of gameplay. Developers also teased seasonal storytelling, community-driven events, and secrets waiting to be uncovered after launch.
With the Closed Alpha starting April 23 and full release set for September 23, Bungie is moving fast—but says it’s committed to shaping the game alongside the community. Whether you’re chasing loot or experimenting with builds, Marathon looks ready to offer a new spin on the extraction genre.
Are you signing up for the alpha? Let us know which Runner you’re planning to try first—and what has you most curious.
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