Bungie's 'Marathon' Shooter Sets Launch Date
What happened
Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter, *Marathon*, will launch on March 5, 2026, according to announcements from the February 2026 State of Play event. A pre-release "server slam" event will run from February 26 to March 2, allowing players early access to the game. The event also revealed plans for a *Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2* and an untitled game based on the *John Wick* franchise.
Why it matters
- The original *Marathon* Trilogy was a series of sci-fi first-person shooters released exclusively for the Apple Macintosh between 1994 and 1996, and is considered a spiritual predecessor to Bungie's later *Halo* franchise. - This new title is not a direct sequel but a revival of the universe, set on the planet Tau Ceti IV in the year 2893. It abandons a single-player campaign to focus on a player-vs-player extraction shooter format. - Players will take on the roles of "Runners," cybernetic mercenaries who have exchanged their biological bodies for specialized frames to scavenge artifacts and resources from the planet's surface. - The project is led by Game Director Joe Ziegler, who was previously the game director for Riot Games' tactical shooter, *Valorant*. - *Marathon* marks Bungie's first entirely new game release since the studio was acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment for $3.6 billion in 2022. - The game has experienced a turbulent development cycle, including internal delays, layoffs at Bungie in October 2023, and multiple changes in creative leadership. - Post-launch plans include a ranked mode where a player's standing is determined by the total value of the gear and items they successfully extract with after a match.
Key numbers
- Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter, *Marathon*, will launch on March 5, 2026, according to announcements from the February 2026 State of Play event.
- A pre-release "server slam" event will run from February 26 to March 2, allowing players early access to the game.
- 2* and an untitled game based on the *John Wick* franchise.
- - The original *Marathon* Trilogy was a series of sci-fi first-person shooters released exclusively for the Apple Macintosh between 1994 and 1996, and is considered a spiritual predecessor to Bungie's later *Halo* franchise.
What happens next
- Players will take on the roles of "Runners," cybernetic mercenaries who have exchanged their biological bodies for specialized frames to scavenge artifacts and resources from the planet's surface.
- Post-launch plans include a ranked mode where a player's standing is determined by the total value of the gear and items they successfully extract with after a match.
- Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter, *Marathon*, will launch on March 5, 2026, according to announcements from the February 2026 State of Play event.
Quick answers
What happened in Bungie's 'Marathon' Shooter Sets Launch Date?
Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter, *Marathon*, will launch on March 5, 2026, according to announcements from the February 2026 State of Play event. A pre-release "server slam" event will run from February 26 to March 2, allowing players early access to the game. The event also revealed plans for a *Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2* and an untitled game based on the *John Wick* franchise.
Why does Bungie's 'Marathon' Shooter Sets Launch Date matter?
The original *Marathon* Trilogy was a series of sci-fi first-person shooters released exclusively for the Apple Macintosh between 1994 and 1996, and is considered a spiritual predecessor to Bungie's later *Halo* franchise. This new title is not a direct sequel but a revival of the universe, set on the planet Tau Ceti IV in the year 2893. It abandons a single-player campaign to focus on a player-vs-player extraction shooter format. Players will take on the roles of "Runners," cybernetic mercenaries who have exchanged their biological bodies for specialized frames to scavenge artifacts and resources from the planet's surface. The project is led by Game Director Joe Ziegler, who was previously the game director for Riot Games' tactical shooter, *Valorant*. *Marathon* marks Bungie's first entirely new game release since the studio was acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment for $3.6 billion in 2022. The game has experienced a turbulent development cycle, including internal delays, layoffs at Bungie in October 2023, and multiple changes in creative leadership. Post-launch plans include a ranked mode where a player's standing is determined by the total value of the gear and items they successfully extract with after a match.
