Bungie is set to unveil more details about its eagerly anticipated PvP extraction shooter, Marathon, through an exciting gameplay livestream scheduled for Saturday, April 12 (or Sunday, April 13, depending on your global location). This event marks a significant milestone for fans eagerly awaiting updates on this reboot of a beloved franchise.

The anticipation was sparked last week when Bungie posted a cryptic tweet featuring a 15-second video, which quickly turned into a sleuthing adventure for fans as part of an "extensive alternative reality game." The community discovered that hidden within the ASCII art was a clip from the initial trailer, showing the iconic runner sprinting down a hall. Another intriguing message surfaced: "WHEN WILL HE RETURN ERROR ERROR ERROR HAS OCCURRED THE ENEMY RETURNED SYSTEM WARNING: PROTOCOL BREACH EVACUATE THE BASE IMMEDIATELY ALL UNITS REPORT TO STATION INITIATE EMERGENCY PROTOCOL 7 DATA LOSS IMMINENT GOOD LUCK, COMMANDER," further fueling the mystery and excitement.

Bungie acknowledged the global community's efforts, stating, "Thousands of community members across the world worked together to unlock the gameplay reveal date for Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter Marathon." The livestream is scheduled for 10 am PDT (San Francisco) / 1 pm EDT (New York) / 6 pm BST (London) / 7 pm CEST (Berlin/Paris) / 9 pm GST (Dubai) on Saturday, April 12, and at 2 am JST (Tokyo) / 3 am AEST (Sydney) / 5 pm NZST (Auckland) on Sunday, April 13.

Marathon was first revealed in May 2023 as a reboot of the classic Bungie franchise, promising to delve into themes of "mysteries, eeriness, and psychological creepiness." The game is set on the mysterious planet Tau Ceti IV, where players assume the roles of Runners, cybernetic mercenaries designed to withstand the planet's harsh conditions. As they explore the remnants of a lost colony, players will hunt for valuable loot, including new weapons and gear.

Since its initial reveal, updates have been sparse, though a development update in October provided some insight into Marathon's mechanics. However, Bungie emphasized that the game was still in its early stages of development.

Amidst the excitement for Marathon, the gaming industry has seen shifts, particularly with Sony reevaluating its focus on live-service games following the cancellation of Concord. In November 2023, Sony president Hiroki Totoki announced that the company would launch only six of the 12 planned live-service games by March 2026, a move that also led to the cancellation of The Last of Us multiplayer game.

Bungie has faced its own challenges, including significant layoffs. In July 2024, the company laid off 220 staff members, representing 17% of its workforce, less than a year after another round of 100 layoffs. Additionally, former Marathon director Chris Barrett was allegedly fired following an internal misconduct investigation, and he subsequently sued Sony Interactive Entertainment and Bungie for over $200 million.

To catch the Marathon reveal live, tune in to the official Marathon Twitch channel on April 12. This event promises to be a thrilling glimpse into the future of this iconic franchise.