Bungie to Unveil Marathon Gameplay in Upcoming Livestream

Bungie, the renowned developer behind Destiny, is set to unveil more details about their eagerly awaited PvP extraction shooter, Marathon, through an exciting gameplay livestream this Saturday, April 12 (or Sunday, April 13, depending on your location). Mark your calendars for 10 am PDT (San Francisco), 1 pm EDT (New York), 6 pm BST (London), 7 pm CEST (Berlin/Paris), 9 pm GST (Dubai), or on Sunday, April 13 at 2 am JST (Tokyo), 3 am AEST (Sydney), or 5 am NZST (Auckland).

The anticipation began last week when Bungie posted a cryptic tweet featuring a 15-second video that sparked a massive community effort to decode hidden messages. Fans quickly noticed that the ASCII art contained "a snippet of footage from the initial trailer," specifically showing "the runner sprinting down a hall from the trailer." The community's sleuthing paid off, unlocking the date for the gameplay reveal.

Bungie celebrated the 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." This collaborative spirit underscores the excitement surrounding the game, which was first revealed in May 2023 as a reboot of the classic Bungie franchise. Marathon promises a thrilling experience with themes of "mysteries, eeriness, and psychological creepiness," set on the enigmatic planet of Tau Ceti IV. Players will embody Runners, cybernetic mercenaries navigating the planet's harsh conditions and exploring a lost colony in search of valuable loot, including new weapons and gear.

Despite the initial reveal, updates on Marathon have been sparse. A development update video in October shed light on the game's mechanics, but Bungie emphasized that the project was still in its early stages. Amidst this, Sony's strategic shift away from live-service games following the cancellation of Concord and The Last of Us multiplayer game has added an extra layer of intrigue. Sony president Hiroki Totoki announced in November 2023 that the company would focus on launching only six out of the 12 planned live service games by March 2026.

Bungie has also faced its share of challenges. In July 2024, the company laid off 220 staff members, representing 17% of its workforce, less than a year after another round of layoffs affecting 100 employees. Additionally, former Marathon director Chris Barrett was allegedly fired following an internal misconduct investigation, leading to a lawsuit against Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie for over $200 million.

Don't miss the chance to see Marathon in action. Tune into the official Marathon Twitch channel on April 12 to catch the livestream and get a closer look at what Bungie has in store for fans of this iconic franchise.