Marathon Game Director Reveals Playtesting Plans for Bungie’s Extraction Shooter
Marathon game director Joe Ziegler recently provided a brief update on Bungie’s highly anticipated extraction shooter. Although light on details, the video shared exciting news that playtesting will be expanded to more players in 2025.
Marathon Director Says Development is “On Track”
During the video, Ziegler confirmed that Bungie is set to broaden its playtest scope in the upcoming year. The studio aims to involve a “significant amount” of testers in these phases, giving players a unique opportunity to experience the game during its development process.
While specific platforms or dates for the playtests were not revealed, Ziegler assured that players will be updated as soon as details are confirmed. He also encouraged interested players to wishlist Marathon on PS5, Xbox, and Steam, hinting at possible console playtests in 2025.
Ziegler provided a general overview of the game’s current development stage, mentioning that certain aspects like environments are nearing completion, while others such as character models are still a work in progress. Enemy models were described as being in an “early state,” but overall, Ziegler affirmed that development is proceeding as planned.
The update showcased images of two Runners named Thief and Stealth. While gameplay details were minimal, Ziegler shared that Thief has resulted in both hilarious and crazy moments during playtesting. Stealth, on the other hand, utilizes deceptive tactics to move stealthily across the battlefield. Ziegler admitted to playing Stealth frequently and acknowledged that the character may currently be too strong, promising that balance adjustments will be made before the game’s release.
Marathon is positioned as a key element in Sony’s live service initiative. Despite reports hinting at a potential price tag for the extraction shooter, an official release date is yet to be announced.