The new sci-fi shooter Marathon by the Destiny developers Bungie is set to open its doors to all players in spring 2026. Now, 20 minutes of gameplay have been leaked and fans think it will end up just like Anthem.
What is the new sci-fi shooter from Bungie? Marathon is a sci-fi PvP extraction shooter and takes place on a mysterious planet. You take on the roles of cybernetic soldiers, called Runners, and must loot and survive on the planet either alone or together.
Marathon was supposed to release in September 2025, but has been postponed by Bungie to March 2026 and is expected to cost €39.99.
What are these leaks? A post was shared in the subreddit for gaming leaks that includes several links to different elements of Marathon. Along with an intro mission, PvP gameplay and some weapons were leaked (reddit.com).
Community thinks it will end like Anthem
What does the community think about the Marathon leaks? Under the Reddit post are many skeptical players sharing their opinions on the leaks.
The Reddit user voltwaffle writes: “I don’t think it will flop like Concord (the hero shooter from 2024 that was shut down), but I can imagine it ending up like Anthem. It probably doesn’t appeal to anyone outside a hardcore PvP audience.”
What happened with Anthem? Anthem is an online action RPG that was released in 2019. Players celebrated the setting, atmosphere, and gameplay loop of Anthem, however, there was little content at launch and the game was in a desolate state.
The developers Bioware abandoned early content plans and believed Anthem needed a fundamental overhaul. The plan was ultimately scrapped in February 2021 with the announcement that all development on Anthem would be halted. In January 2026, the servers for Anthem are expected to be permanently closed.
Are there any further opinions on the leaks? The Reddit user Nirkky refers to the statement from voltwaffle and questions who the gamers for Marathon are supposed to be: “Well, the hardcore PvP audience already has Escape from Tarkov for that. After playing every Marathon test phase, I still don’t understand what gamer profile this is actually supposed to target.”
Has there been discussion about the gameplay? Yes, comments have also been made about the gameplay, and Reddit user nhozemphtek writes that it’s a no-go in an extraction shooter if someone can become invisible.
Another criticism of the gameplay is the time it takes to eliminate someone (Time-To-Kill or TTK). Reddit user Chun–Chun2 writes that this is far too fast: “The TTK is damn fast. In none of the PvP fights could you even shoot back. Basically, it just comes down to who shoots first or who sees whom first.”
Like any leaks, of course, those from Marathon are not the final product we will get in the end. A lot can still change and develop before the release. Bungie has already held several tests for their new sci-fi shooter and has made improvements; however, there is still criticism: The new alpha for Marathon is said to be much better than a few months ago, but criticism remains
