Bungie has finally pulled back the veil on the secret project they’ve been in development on for some time now. Marathon was officially announced at this week’s PlayStation Showcase, revealing a striking visual design and tantalizing gamers with the prospect of yet another fascinating universe developed by the makers of Halo and Destiny.
Marathon’s reveal trailer mostly shows off the updated aesthetic for the game that takes clear inspiration from hyper-digital and corpo-facist science fiction. The environments are drenched in neon and feature corporate logos and digital interfaces splashed across almost every surface. It’s a striking style that’s distinct from Bungie’s other current project, Destiny 2.
Marathon actually predates Bungie’s MMO shooter, though. The first game of that name was released in 1994 for Macintosh computers, spawning a trilogy of single-player titles that were released over the next two years. The legacy of Marathon would be felt throughout Bungie’s later work, even inspiring a set of armor in Destiny 2’s 30th Anniversary pack.
The modern iteration of Marathon is set to be a PvP, extraction-style shooter that focuses more on gameplay than story. Instead, Bungie wants players to drive the story themselves through moments with other players and by interacting with the world itself. The studio released a community puzzle through content creators that, once solved, unlocked a brief ViDoc (video documentary) on the game’s development.
The ViDoc revealed more details about the game, including how its world will grow and evolve based on player interaction. Marathon will also have seasons, much like other PvP titles, and it will be exclusive to current-gen consoles and PC. Competitive players will also be happy to know that Bungie is investing in dedicated servers for the game, ensuring more secure and stable matches.
The ViDoc closed with a bit of a double-edged sword. The next time we see Marathon, it’ll be with actual gameplay. Unfortunately, that won’t be for some time, as Bungie plans on going dark on the game while they continue playtesting and development. In the meantime, there’s a brand new season of Destiny 2 to explore.
