Bungie recently revealed that it's working on a revival of its classic Marathon franchise, as previously rumored, and though the game is going to be primarily a PvP-oriented extraction shooter like Escape from Tarkov, it appears to have some PvE elements as well. While there's not a huge amount of information available about the Destiny 2 studio's upcoming title, the devs have provided some context as to what the players should expect.
Bungie's legendary Marathon franchise wasn't nearly as popular as some of its contemporaries, like Doom, ended up being, but it was a mind-bending trendsetter in its own right. Though some fans may have been disappointed by the reveal that the revival will be a dedicated PvP experience first and foremost, not all hope is lost for a PvE component yet.
According to Bungie's new blog post, in which developers Scott Taylor and Christopher Barrett discuss Marathon in its current state, the game will indeed feature AI combatants alongside real-world players. "We’re building a rich, immersive world that will have ample opportunities for exploration and conflict – both against other players and AI-controlled enemies," said Barret. In that same blog, the devs say that there won't be a classic single-player campaign in Marathon, but the game's narrative will indeed play a major role. Single-player fans may also be thrilled to hear that Marathon will offer ways to progress without necessarily extracting out of the level, implying that it might not be nearly as hardcore as Tarkov.
After the hubbub first broke about Bungie's then-rumored revival of Marathon, it wasn't clear what sort of game Bungie might actually be making. Now, however, with the first trailer having been shown off, the fact that it's a PvP game, first and foremost, may come as a bit of a gut-punch to franchise veterans. The game's aesthetic and general vibe appear to be somewhat reminiscent of Craig Mullins' classic Marathon artwork, with its stark, retro-futuristic visual style. This may serve as a draw to those who wish to play a proper new single-player Marathon title, and depending on how far the new game's PvE features and accessibility go, it may end up working out.
Though Bungie has officially announced its revival of Marathon, it's currently unknown when the game might be coming out. Presumably, Bungie still has some way to go before it's all ready for release, and given that this is the first live-service experience that the studio will launch since it was acquired by Sony, it's likely that the devs will go all-out with it.
Bungie is also getting ready to wrap up the main narrative thread of Destiny. With Destiny 2's The Final Shape DLC getting its first trailer as part of the May 2023 PlayStation Showcase, it's unclear what the future holds for the franchise after its last announced DLC comes out in 2024. Marathon may well take over as the studio's main IP after that happens, but only time will tell.
Marathon is currently in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Source: Bungie