Bungie’s Marathon Launching September 2025 as a Premium Game

When it comes to single-player titles, Sony PlayStation have long established itself as an industry leader, known for delivering quality experiences. However, their efforts in the live-service genre have painted a different picture. Only Helldivers 2 has managed to capture momentum and garner widespread acclaim. Now, Sony is again taking a swing at the genre with the help of veteran developer Bungie Studios, who have finally unveiled the first gameplay footage for their upcoming shooter: Marathon.

Having only been teased in snippets, Marathon has now been officially introduced with the Marathon Gameplay Reveal Showcase. Bungie has embraced a vibrant and futuristic aesthetic, distinguishing itself visually from most other shooters on the market.

Players will step into the Runner role, cybernetic mercenaries hired to retrieve various resources from the dangerous and uncharted planet, Tau Ceti IV. Each Runner comes equipped with unique skills and abilities, encouraging players to find the best synergies within their squad. To make things even more dynamic, the battlefield will also feature numerous AI-controlled bots that add extra tension and challenge.

At its core, this is a team-based, extraction-style multiplayer shooter, where players are divided into squads of three and must go head-to-head against six other teams, totaling 21 players per match. In true extraction shooter fashion, the objective is to locate valuable loot on the battlefield and successfully extract it. This loot can then be used to enhance and customize your character, adding layers of progression and personalisation to the experience.

Marathon is scheduled for release on September 23, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC with full cross-play and cross-progression support. Unlike the genre’s usual free-to-play titles, Sony and Bungie have confirmed that Marathon will be a premium paid title. While its exact price remains unannounced, it is expected to be cheaper than most of Sony’s typical AAA releases.

Of course, going against the grain has predictably raised eyebrows, especially after the negative reception surrounding Concord, another premium live-service game that struggled to gain favor. Whether Marathon can break the mould remains to be seen.