Bungie, the renowned developer behind Destiny, is set to unveil more details about its highly anticipated PvP extraction shooter, Marathon, through an exciting gameplay livestream scheduled for this Saturday, April 12 (or Sunday, April 13, depending on your location). The livestream promises to provide fans with a deeper look into the game's mechanics and world.
Last week, Bungie sparked intrigue with a cryptic tweet featuring a 15-second video that sent fans on a thrilling scavenger hunt as part of an "extensive alternative reality game." The community quickly discovered that the ASCII art in the video contained a snippet from the initial trailer, specifically a scene of a runner sprinting down a hallway. This discovery was just the beginning of a global puzzle-solving effort.
Another clue emerged with the message: "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." This cryptic message further fueled the community's enthusiasm and curiosity.
Bungie acknowledged the collective effort of "thousands of community members across the world" who collaborated to unlock the date for the gameplay reveal. 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) on Saturday, April 12, and at 2 am JST (Tokyo) / 3 am AEST (Sydney) / 5 am NZST (Auckland) on Sunday, April 13.
Marathon was first revealed in May 2023 as a reboot of the classic Bungie franchise, emphasizing themes of "mysteries, eeriness, and psychological creepiness." Set on the mysterious planet of Tau Ceti IV, the game features players as Runners, cybernetic mercenaries designed to withstand the planet's harsh conditions. As they explore a lost colony, players will seek valuable loot, including new weapons and gear.
Since the initial reveal, updates have been sparse. A development update video in October provided some insight into Marathon's mechanics, but emphasized the game's early stage of development. Amidst these developments, Sony's strategy regarding live-service games has shifted, particularly following the cancelation of the live-service shooter Concord. In November 2023, Sony president Hiroki Totoki announced a reduction in focus, committing to launch only six of the planned 12 live-service games by March 2026, which included the cancelation of The Last of Us multiplayer game.
Bungie itself has faced significant challenges. In July 2024, the company laid off 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.
