Marathon Trilogy Now Complete on Steam, But Reboot Remains Elusive
Bungie's iconic sci-fi shooter series, Marathon, is now complete on Steam. Following the free release of the first two titles earlier this year, the final instalment, Marathon Infinity, has finally arrived on Valve's platform.
Released in 1996, Marathon Infinity concludes the narrative arc of the trilogy, exploring warring alien factions and a rogue AI. Despite its age, the game's story resonates with Bungie's later works, showcasing the studio's recurring themes and evolving gameplay mechanics. While the series has been accessible through the Aleph One open-source port for years, this marks the first time the complete trilogy has been available on Steam, seemingly with Bungie's blessing.
Despite the completion of the classic trilogy, excitement for the upcoming Marathon reboot, announced last year, remains high. However, information on the project remains scarce. Described as a PvP extraction shooter with loose ties to the original Marathon lore, the game's development has been shrouded in secrecy.
The game's original director, Christopher Barrett, has since been replaced by former Valorant director Joe Ziegler, following a studio management shakeup. Bungie has also experienced two rounds of significant layoffs since the reboot's announcement, potentially impacting development. According to Bloomberg, the remaining studio team is primarily focused on the Marathon reboot, with a tentative release window of 2025 at the earliest. Despite this, only a stylish teaser trailer has been released, leaving fans with limited insight into the game's actual appearance and gameplay.
For now, fans can revisit the classic Marathon trilogy, which is still available through the Aleph One port. As the series celebrates its 30th anniversary in December, fans can revisit the legacy of Bungie's innovative shooter, which has influenced the genre for decades. Whether the reboot can live up to the legacy of its predecessors remains to be seen, but for now, fans can re-experience the captivating world of Marathon in its original form.
