Skip To...
Whenever I see a new live service game, I get hit with a strange feeling. On the one hand, I’d love to jump to any new one. Launch days are always the most fun, and watching these games unfold into something greater is always amazing. On the other hand, I have so many live service games to tackle every week that adding one more just feels overwhelming. However, there’s always one new one that just makes me say, “What’s one more?” And that’s what the Marathon gameplay reveal made me feel. With Bungie helming yet another FPS, I’m sure this one will stick around for years to come and will hook me regardless of what other games I have to play weekly. And you know what’s the craziest thing? That it is an extraction shooter. As someone who runs away from them, I’m doing the opposite with this one.
The Marathon Gameplay Reveal Was Accompanied By A Release Date
In case you missed it, Marathon also unveiled its release date during the gameplay reveal showcase. It will launch on September 23, 2025, but you can also register for the closed alpha beta through the game’s Discord, which will take place on April 23. But now, let’s move on to the flashy things and why Marathon is looking so alluring.
Lately, the live-service genre has been flooded with extraction shooters. We’ve seen a few run-of-the-mill ones, some that have been stuck in development for years, and then a few others that look quite enthralling, such as Marathon.
Right off the bat, it is one of the most unique visuals we’ve seen so far. You can check the gameplay reveal and see how gorgeous the retro style looks in Marathon. I’m all for that. Yet, beyond that, the actual gameplay looks fantastic.
So far, four Runners have been confirmed at launch, and I’m already having a difficult time choosing which one to pick. You can say what you want, but looking at Guardians in Destiny 2, their design is perfect, gameplay-wise. It seems like the same philosophy applies to Marathon, and Runners are a huge selling point.
An Extraction Shooter That Might Finally Break the Mold
It might be too early to tell, but Marathon could be the game that brings the genre under a mainstream spotlight. Extraction shooters are quite niche. They are known for not being too respectful of players’ time, and they can be quite punishing for those who don’t dive deep into them. However, as someone who’s been on and off in Destiny 2, I’ve always found it easy to jump into it in different expansions. Well, leaving the story part aside, of course.
Assuming Marathon brings the same design philosophy of Destiny 2, we could see a highly accessible extraction shooter. As the gameplay showcase revealed, Marathon will still have the same punishing loop. If you die, you lose your loot. So, it is always a high-risk/high-reward thing. But if Bungie manages to make things not so punishing, they could have the perfect extraction shooter for all types of players.
As first impressions go, Marathon has done a great job. We saw smooth gameplay, hands-on impressions, and many things that show Bungie’s dedication to this long-awaited title. However, Marathon is still taking its first steps, so it might be too early to tell. There are still a few months before the release, and we’ll have to see how the closed alpha goes. Yet, as someone who’s never stuck around extraction shooters, Marathon might be the one that makes a dedicated fan.
