Marathon launch date set for September, closed Alpha coming late April
Just moments ago, Bungie revealed the official Marathon release date and shared fresh details about the long-awaited closed Alpha test.
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After years of waiting and weeks of nonstop teases and speculation, fans of the team-based extraction shooter are finally getting what they’ve been craving: Real, confirmed, and official news. The exact Marathon release date has been revealed during the title’s gameplay showcase. And there’s more! Marathon’s closed Alpha test is set to launch at the end of this month, giving a lucky few a first look at what’s to come.
Official Marathon release date
- September 23, 2025.
Fans’ speculation about a fall release date has come true. Marathon is officially set to launch on September 23, 2025, staying true to Bungie’s well-known pattern of major releases. The community had predicted this based on the studio’s consistent track record of rolling out its biggest titles and expansions:
- Destiny – Released September 9, 2014
- Destiny: The Taken King – Released September 15, 2015
- Destiny: Rise of Iron – Released September 20, 2016
- Destiny 2 – Released September 6, 2017
- Destiny 2: Forsaken – Released September 4, 2018
- Destiny 2: New Light – Released September 17, 2019
- Even Halo: Reach, back in Bungie’s pre-Destiny days, dropped on September 14, 2010
And now, it’s time for Marathon to join this September lineup proudly!
Official Marathon Alpha test start date
- April 23, 2025.
As for Marathon Alpha test, it’ll start on April 23, 2025. Players who want access can sign up through the official Marathon Discord server:
Marathon will arrive on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Bungie has also confirmed that players won’t need a PlayStation Network account to play on other platforms.
Note
The following section covers Tom Henderson’s hints and teases about Marathon release date from a few days ago.
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Tom Henderson’s tweet hints at Marathon release date
Tom Henderson, founder of Insider Gaming, recently hinted at Marathon’s release window. According to him, the game is coming before the end of 2025. In a lighthearted tweet, Henderson wrote:
“Told the missus I’ll be on a Marathon grind later this year and she’s only gone and signed me up the gym.”
— Tom Henderson
The joke, of course, is a not-so-subtle nod to Bungie’s Marathon. When a user on X asked him directly if the game would be released this year, Henderson replied with a clear “yes.”
No shadow drop, but Marathon Alpha test is coming
Yesterday, as speculation around Marathon’s release date heated up, Tom Henderson stirred the pot by replying with a GIF of Shrek looking up. This vague and cheeky response led some fans to believe Bungie might be planning a shadow drop for Marathon right after the upcoming showcase.
What is a shadow drop?
A shadow drop is when a game launches with zero warning. No ads, no countdown, just an instant surprise. Titles like Hi-Fi Rush and Apex Legends are famous examples of this tactic.
Later that evening, Henderson stepped in to clear things up:
“I should be more responsible with GIFs before bed… but this is a closed alpha, not a shadow drop.”
— Tom Henderson
So, while a shadow drop isn’t happening, a Marathon closed alpha test is expected to kick off shortly after the showcase. It’s the first major step to Marathon’s full launch later this year.
Confirmation from Paul Tassi
Forbes journalist Paul Tassi also backed up Henderson’s claims, tweeting that Bungie is preparing for a “relatively large” closed alpha, likely to go live shortly after the showcase.
Tassi pointed out that Destiny had its own alpha the same year it launched. So, testing in 2025 doesn’t rule out the possibility that Marathon could still drop later this year.
Are you excited for the release of Marathon? Let us know all about it in the comments!
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