Leaks surrounding Bungie’s newMarathonshooter point toward a possible permadeath feature that could see players lose their loot upon death.Marathonwas first revealed at PlayStation’s 2023 showcase back in May as a live service revival ofBungie’s original 1994 FPS.
As the studio responsible for evolving multiplayer gaming with the originalHalotrilogy under Microsoft, and later popularizing the live service blueprint as an independent studio withDestiny,Bungie is one of the most important multiplayer studios in the industry. Now part of PlayStation’s first-party family, Bungie fans have been eager to learn about the live service juggernaut’s next big title after almost 10 years ofDestinyandDestiny 2support. WhileMarathon’sMirror’s Edge-inspired art styleand blood-pumping CGI trailer were incredibly impressive, many gamers were left disappointed by the lack of information and gameplay provided by the reveal.
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Luckily, leaks regarding importantMarathongameplay details have been uncovered by Insider Gaming, revealing a potential permadeath mechanic which could become central to theMarathonexperience. The supposed nature ofMarathonis that squads of players drop into a map where they’ll explore, find weapons, complete missions, and earn XP before extracting with their goods. Players will then use that XP to buy perks and upgrades before jumping in again. The permadeath feature would see fallen players lose their currency, weapons, and story-related items called artifacts.
It’s unknown whether players will have a bank of secured currency and weapons that remains untouched upon death or if the game will feature something akin toDeathloop’s Infusion mechanicwhich lets players spend currency on an item to keep it forever. Bungie’sHalotaught players not to grow too attached to the weapon in their hand, whileDestinydid the opposite. It’ll be interesting to see exactly how permadeath affects the retention of weapons and gear inMarathon.
The leak also revealedMarathon’soxygen mechanic, which will give players a set amount of oxygen while they’re exploring the maps. As that oxygen slowly depletes, players will need to decide if they want to gamble and remain in the match longer to try and find more oxygen or extract with what they have. Additionally, players can spend currency on additional oxygen before jumping into a match. With permadeath being rumored aspart ofMarathon,this limited oxygen mechanic could add even more stress to the moment-to-moment gameplay, which could be even more fun for players.
It’s important to remember that these details are unconfirmed as of now. Since no release window was attached toMarathon’s CGI reveal trailer, there’s no knowing when fans will be able to officially learn more about Bungie’s next big shooter. WithDestiny 2’s upcoming expansion The Final Shapeset to conclude the Light and Darkness saga in 2024, perhaps that’s when fans could expect to learn and see .
Marathonis in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
