Bungie has seemingly commenced playtests for its upcoming live-service extraction shooter, Marathon. Gaming influencers and content creators have apparently been visiting Bungie's headquarters to try out Marathon and likely provide feedback on it.
Marathon was announced in summer 2023 as a revival of Bungie's long-dormant but well-regarded first-person shooter series from the 1990s. Where the original Marathon games were campaign-heavy, though, the upcoming reboot is a live-service title that draws inspiration from extraction shooters like Escape from Tarkov. New directions aren't uncommon when rebooting franchises, but Marathon's reputation has taken a hit due to its troubled development, with rumors of misconduct, creative leads exiting, potential delays, and more.
A new report claims that Bungie fired its Marathon director after an internal investigation, which included various complaints from employees.
Although unconfirmed, rumors suggest Bungie is internally targeting a 2025 release window for Marathon. The recent reports of Marathon sporting a $40 price tag lend further credence to this, as pricing is usually worked out in the back half of development. A 2025 launch seems likelier now, as Bungie has started inviting content creators and influencers to playtest Marathon. YouTuber HiddenXperia recently announced on Twitter...
