Bungie has its finger on the trigger again - Marathontheir sci-fi revival and attempt at the extraction shooter genre, is in the starting blocks. On September 23, 2025 the title will be released for PS5, Xbox Series and PC. Kotaku was able to immerse myself in an early version. The impressions? A rollercoaster of emotions - somewhere between high tension, disorientation and atmospheric idling.
Good gunplay meets empty content
One thing that immediately catches the eye is the gunplay. It feels exactly as you would expect from the Destiny-The result is the kind of sound that musicians want - precise, rich and direct in the best possible way. Every shot has weight, every movement feels polished. This is where Bungie's decades of shooter experience, which is at the heart of Marathon forms. The art design is also impressive: stylized neon lights meet gloomy corridors, futuristic ruins and a look that certainly whets the appetite for more.
But this first bite quickly turns out to have no nutritional value. Because as good as the aiming feels - the rest feels empty. Despite the constant threat and the search for cover, loot and enemies, Kotaku found no real motivation to continue playing at all. The thrill of starting the next round? Not a chance.
A central problem: the lack of a tangible system of progress. If you die, you lose everything. That alone would be bearable if there were at least quests, battle passes or something to sweeten death a little. But as it is, frustration reigns - with no carrot, just a stick.
Between hardcore frustration and casual confusion
The PvP? A disappointment. Encounters with other teams are rare and often simply end with someone being quicker on the trigger. No room for tactical gimmicks, no clever positioning. Whoever shoots first wins - that's it. The AI opponents also exude boredom rather than danger: predictable, repetitive, at best an obstacle that can be avoided.
Even more serious is the emptiness - both literally and figuratively. Despite an alleged player count of 18 teams per map, the game feels Marathon like a ghost playground. The maps? Interchangeable sci-fi labyrinths with no recognizable landmarks or narrative context. No boss fights, no epic showdowns, no memorable extractions. A PvEvP game without PvE highlights and PvP excitement - you have to manage that first.
This leaves Marathon in its current form is one thing above all: a stylish design that lacks heart. It is too soft for hardcore gamers and too merciless for casuals. Bungie is trying to do justice to both groups - and has so far failed in this balancing act. And yet: there is something. A foundation. The solid gunplay. The atmosphere. The desire that this rough diamond could perhaps be polished into a real hit.
But there's a long way to go until then. And Bungie has to make a decision: Will Marathon be a merciless shooter for elite players - or a stylish spectacle for the masses? Both will be difficult. And neither would be a shame.
Players will soon be able to see for themselves Marathon make if the closed alpha phase startsfrom which impressions can be shared without restrictions.
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