Marathon FPS Drops Today

This new release revives a classic Bungie franchise that predates both *Halo* and *Destiny*. The original *Marathon* was a sci-fi first-person shooter that launched in December 1994, exclusively for the Apple Macintosh. It was followed by two sequels, *Marathon 2: Durandal* (1995) and *Marathon Infinity* (1996), completing the original trilogy. The project is helmed by Game Director Joe Ziegler, who was previously the game director for Riot Games' tactical shooter, *Valorant*. Ziegler took over the role from Christopher Barrett in September 2023. The development team has grown to involve over 300 developers. While the cinematic trailer was featured at a PlayStation showcase, *Marathon* is a multi-platform title. It is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game also supports full cross-play and cross-save functionality across all platforms. The game is structured around a seasonal model, with seasons lasting approximately three months. At the end of each season, a "wipe" will occur, clearing all player gear, quest progress, and faction progress to create a fresh start. However, unlocked cosmetics and lore entries in the codex will carry over between seasons. Bungie has stated that all new content added in future seasons, such as maps and playable "Runner" characters, will be free to play or earn. Unlike *Destiny 2*, the studio does not plan to sell paid expansions for *Marathon*. The road to launch involved several delays. After its announcement in May 2023, the game was initially planned for a 2025 release before being pushed back. A "server slam" beta ran from February 25 to March 2, allowing players to test the game ahead of its official release.