After a decade dedicated to its ongoing shared world shooter Destiny, Bungie is set to revive its former sci-fi shooter series, Marathon. On Saturday, the game was officially unveiled with the release of a cinematic short, which has been described as one of the most impressive videos of 2025. The video, written and directed by Spanish animator Alberto Mielgo—renowned for his work on Love, Death, & Robots and as art director for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse—introduces viewers to the intriguing and unsettling sci-fi world of the new Marathon.
The eight-minute cinematic begins with unusual events unfolding on the planet Tau Ceti IV. Colonists face tragedies as some are crushed by satellite debris from a meteor shower, while others meet gruesome ends. These events are shown spanning several decades, from 2794 to 2812 and 2827. The narrative then progresses to the year 2893, where cybernetic beings, previously humans whose bodies have been transformed by cybernetic silkworms, scaveng the colony for valuable items to sell to the various factions that remain stationed on the planet.
This part of the cinematic, featuring narration by Ben Starr of Final Fantasy XVI, aims to illustrate Marathon‘s gameplay loop. This multiplayer extraction shooter will have players take on the role of cybernetic mercenaries known as Runners, tasked with retrieving data and other valuable items for the factions of Tau Ceti. Players will engage in combat with each other, as well as with the planet’s wildlife and security bots, in an effort to secure loot and escape safely. The cinematic provides a glimpse into Bungie’s new sci-fi realm and hints at the experiences awaiting players. Known for crafting immersive atmospheres, Bungie presents characters like Glitch (voiced by Erica Lindbeck) and Void (voiced by Elias Toufexis), who sense something amiss on Tau Ceti but are unable to articulate the anomaly. Despite the dangers, they remain drawn to the planet, even after being rebuilt following defeats.
Cinematic storytelling is common in the gaming industry, but Marathon represents a significant evolution for Bungie, surpassing the studio’s previous projects like Halo and Destiny in terms of aesthetic distinction. While the world depicted is cold and shaken by mysterious disappearances, there is a vibrancy in colors creating an unexpected harmony. The cinematics are shot in a close-up style that establishes an intimacy among the Runners, intensifying the impact of the scenes where they meet their demise.
For many viewers, this cinematic is enticing enough to spark interest in Marathon, and Sony may use portions of it for television promotions. However, the game’s multiplayer-only nature might deter those who appreciate the single-player campaigns that Bungie has excelled in crafting over the years. Despite this, Marathon is poised to captivate multiplayer enthusiasts when it launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on September 23.
