Bungie has officially announced that its upcoming extraction shooter Marathon will launch on March 5, confirming what fans have been eagerly waiting for.

The game is already off to a strong start, reaching #5 on Steam’s top sellers chart shortly after pre-orders became available. This early success highlights the growing excitement around Bungie’s return to the Marathon universe.

In December 2025, Bungie released a detailed ViDoc showing how the game has evolved following its delay. The update revealed major improvements to visuals, lighting, and overall presentation, along with key new features such as proximity voice chat and the ability to queue either solo or in groups.

Earlier in 2025, Bungie also shared a cinematic trailer that teased some of Marathon’s story elements. While the game is primarily focused on multiplayer, players will still experience an ongoing narrative as they progress through matches.

The original reveal trailer offered the first look at Marathon’s extraction shooter gameplay, featuring a gunfight on a remote planet and showcasing the game’s high-risk, high-reward structure.

Marathon Gameplay Overview

Marathon is a modern reimagining of Bungie’s 1994 FPS classic, which predates Halo by nearly a decade. While the new version is very different from the original, it retains Bungie’s signature sci-fi identity.

Players choose from a roster of unique Runners, each with their own abilities and playstyles. Matches feature teams of three in an 18-player PvPvE extraction shooter format.

So far, four Runners have been revealed:

• Void – A stealth-based Runner focused on sneaking in, looting, and escaping quietly.
• Glitch – A high-mobility character with disruptive and damaging abilities.
• Locus – A tanky Runner built to absorb damage with a larger health pool.
• Blackbird – A recon specialist who can scan the map and reveal enemy positions.

Successful extractions reward players with better gear, while dying means losing everything collected. However, Marathon aims to be more accessible than hardcore extraction shooters like Escape from Tarkov, offering a more mainstream experience similar to ARC Raiders.

With its March 5 launch date now confirmed and strong pre-order momentum, Marathon is shaping up to be one of Bungie’s biggest releases in years.