Bungie is at it again with an all-newMarathonARG to accompany the game’s official announcement. Essentially the revival of Bungie’s first FPS franchise, the newMarathongame is a PvP-focused extraction shooter with some PvE elements possibly thrown into the mix, which makes it the polar opposite of whatMarathonveterans will remember from almost 30 years ago.Alternate reality games have beenBungie’s calling card for quite some time now, with some of the studio’s most notable forays into ARG development being attached to theDestinyfranchise. The studio uses these special real-world events to send players on a chase after bits and pieces of mysterious information about their upcoming releases, and it just so happens thatMarathonis the next in line to get this treatment.RELATED:Leaked Destiny 2 Cutscene Explains the Origins of The WitnessNow thatMarathonis officially being revivedas an extraction shooter, Bungie pushed out a comprehensive press release kit that the community immediately began poring over. It didn’t take long for eagle-eyed fans to discover a mysterious QR code on the head of one of the featured biomechanical caterpillars, leading them to a strange website that hasn’t yet been fully deciphered. At the same time, some content creators have receivedMarathon-themed goodie bundles brimming with curious artifacts, codes, and access keys. The community is still hard at work figuring out what’s what, but bits and pieces have already started being uncovered.Aside from the pixelated “WE ARE MIDA” picture, classicMarathonphrases have also begun popping up as community members decrypt the available materials. Notably, the SomewhereInTheHeavens hashtag appears to have some relevance for the ARG, and it’s a direct reference to the “Somewhere in the heavens… they are waiting” line from theold BungieMarathonfranchise lore. The three original titles were infamous for their cryptic and deeply metaphysical lore, meaning it’s likely that the ARG will delve into some weird materials before all is said and done.
Historically, Bungie hasused ARGs to hint at futureDestinycontent, but the newMarathonARG appears to be more interested in setting the stage for the game’s general vibe. So far, it’s been appropriately cryptic and creepy. Even though it will be a dedicated PvP title, odds are that it will feature classic Bungie storytelling thatMarathonfans will know and love.
Those who aren’t keen on PvP and extraction shooters may still want to keep an eye onMarathon’s development. Bungie revealed that theMarathonrevival will feature a PvE componentof some sort, and though it won’t be the main focus of the game, it’s possible that it will still provide a reasonably decent experience for single-player fans. The project is currently shrouded in mystery, of course, and it’s going to take a while until the ARG is untangled in full.
Marathonis currently in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
