Bungie to Unveil Marathon Gameplay in Upcoming Livestream

Bungie is set to unveil more details about its eagerly anticipated PvP extraction shooter, Marathon, through an exclusive gameplay livestream scheduled for Saturday, April 12, or Sunday, April 13, depending on your global location. This event promises an in-depth look at the game, stirring excitement among fans worldwide.

The buzz began last week when Bungie posted a cryptic tweet featuring a 15-second video that sparked an "extensive alternative reality game" among fans. The community quickly noticed an ASCII art containing a snippet from the initial trailer, specifically a scene of the runner sprinting down a hall. Another intriguing message surfaced, reading: "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 praised the collaborative efforts of thousands of community members globally who worked together to uncover the gameplay reveal date. The livestream is scheduled 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 Sunday, April 13 at 2 am JST (Tokyo) / 3 am AEST (Sydney) / 5 pm NZST (Auckland).

Marathon was first revealed in May 2023 as a reboot of the classic Bungie franchise, promising a mix of "mysteries, eeriness, and psychological creepiness." Set on the enigmatic planet of Tau Ceti IV, players will take on the role of Runners, cybernetic mercenaries adapted to the planet's harsh conditions. The game involves exploring a lost colony to find valuable loot, including new weapons and gear.

Since its initial reveal, updates on Marathon have been sparse. A development update video in October provided insight into the game's mechanics, though Bungie emphasized the game's early stage of development.

In the broader gaming industry, Sony's recent strategy shift has impacted Bungie's projects. Following the abrupt cancellation of the live-service shooter Concord, Sony announced in November 2023 a reduced focus on live-service games, committing to launch only six out of the planned 12 by March 2026. This change also led to the cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer game.

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

To catch the Marathon gameplay reveal live, tune in to the official Marathon Twitch channel on April 12.