Bungie has revealed an upcoming closed alpha for Marathon, an all-new and ambitious extraction shooter that effectively reboots a 1994 game. Bungie uncovered it a couple of years back but has been mostly silent since – until now. The team started posting teasers on social media in the last few days, all leading up to this announcement.
Alongside the reveal of the impending closed alpha, prospective fans got a much-needed glimpse of the game via a new trailer.
Marathon, Not a Sprint
Marathon has been a long time coming, and from what we’ve seen in early gameplay materials (such as the new trailer), it’s trying to be as innovative and unique as possible. The extraction shooter genre is a tough one to crack, given the dominance held over the vertical by games like Escape from Tarkov, but Bungie is giving it a fair crack.
In 2023, GPlayr exclusively revealed key details of Marathon’s gameplay loop, many of which have now been cemented by this new trailer.
The game will operate primarily with a trios-based model, with 18 players occupying each of the three maps (at launch). Once the game has hit the market, a fourth map will be released, appropriately named ‘Marathon’.
Here’s the new trailer:
Fans of the extraction shooter genre will be right at home with Marathon. All it takes is to gear up and become a Runner, entering the world of Marathon and trying desperately to survive the colourful but very dangerous world.
How to Access Marathon Alpha
To get access to the Marathon closed alpha, you’ll need to be invited by Bungie.
This all begins with accessing the Marathon Discord server and completing a survey.
If you can secure a priority code, the team has advised that even they don’t guarantee access and only increase your chances of getting in.
It’s a somewhat limited closed alpha that will function better for those playing in North America – PlayStation codes are region-locked to North and South America.
If you’re able to receive a code, you’ll then be given two codes to invite friends to the platform.
The Marathon closed alpha will start on April 23, and all participants will be under a strict NDA.
For more GPlayr coverage, check out the discussion piece around Escape from Tarkov’s new battle pass model