Marathon Review: Bungie's Extraction Shooter Faces a Challenging Launch
Bungie, the renowned studio behind Halo and Destiny 2, has rebooted its 1994 first-person shooter Marathon into a flashy new extraction shooter in 2026. However, this title requires significant perseverance to uncover its full potential, living up to its name with an arduous journey to release.
A Troubled Development Path
Originally announced in May 2023, Marathon's development was marred by studio restructurings, mass layoffs, and a plagiarism controversy, which was later resolved to the affected artist's satisfaction. After a significant delay, the game arrives as one of the few remaining pillars of Sony's live service ambitions, aiming to compete with hits like Fortnite or Apex Legends, despite a history of short-lived failures and cancelled projects in this space.
Adding to the challenge, Marathon faces competition from Arc Raiders, another extraction shooter that launched a few months earlier and has achieved the breakthrough success Sony desires. Given Bungie's pedigree with everlasting multiplayer shooters, the buzz around Marathon feels surprisingly low-key, possibly due to its troubled development, studio changes, or the niche nature of the extraction shooter subgenre.
Gameplay and Mechanics: A Steep Learning Curve
Based on the Server Slam preview, Marathon is an unwelcoming and convoluted experience for newcomers. Players take on the role of Runners, biocybernetic shells sent to retrieve salvage from the Tau Ceti colony in response to a distress signal. The core loop involves landing in an area, looting for gear, completing objectives, and extracting via designated points, with the risk of losing everything upon death.
While the game borrows some easing mechanics from competitors, such as free loadouts and the Rook shell for solo play, it remains obtuse in many aspects. The menu interface is a perplexing mess, with cumbersome processes for swapping loadouts and managing mods. Gameplay initially frustrates with a punishing time-to-kill and tough AI enemies, compounded by poor visibility due to fog effects.
Glimmers of Potential Amidst Frustrations
Despite these hurdles, Marathon shows promise for those who persist. As players adapt, the time-to-kill becomes more manageable with upgrades, and the reward system encourages focusing on quests and data cards rather than mere survival. The game shines during runs that prioritize task completion over combat, offering tense moments of paranoia and strategic escapes.
Bungie plans to support Marathon with future content, including a ranked mode and the Cryo Archive, an endgame zone akin to Destiny raids. However, the game currently falls short in fundamental areas compared to rivals like Arc Raiders. Its sterile atmosphere and focus on gunfire limit player interactions, and the steep learning curve may deter many from sticking around.
Final Verdict and Release Details
Marathon demonstrates potential for depth with its upgrade systems and high-stakes gameplay, but it is hindered by obtuse design choices and a lack of effective onboarding. Available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC for £34.99, it targets a niche audience willing to overcome its initial frustrations. Whether it can evolve into a lasting hit remains to be seen, but for now, it faces an uphill battle in a competitive market.
