Marathon has unveiled its first lineup of playable characters, known as Runners, featuring four distinct options: Blackbird, Glitch, Locus, and Void. Each presents a set of diverse skills and unique challenges, adding depth to player’s tactical choices. In addition to these four, gamers can expect two more characters to join the Marathon roster when it launches on September 23 for PC and consoles.
The gaming community got its first real look at Marathon’s gameplay, highlighting these classes, as part of the promotional push for Bungie’s latest venture. Expectations have been high since the series’ surprise revival announcement back in May 2023. As the premier extraction shooter of the Marathon series, it also marks Bungie’s debut under the ownership of Sony Interactive Entertainment, which acquired the company in July 2022 in a $3.6 billion deal.
Just ahead of the second anniversary of Bungie’s announcement, they released fresh insights about Marathon on April 12. The studio, now part of Sony, provided a sneak peek with lively gameplay footage and an engaging nine-minute animated short that sets the stage for the Marathon world. In keeping with its boldly cyberpunk theme, four classes of Runners were introduced: Blackbird, Glitch, Locus, and Void.
These characters bring a blend of strategies to the table, each tailored for different gameplay styles. For instance, Void and Blackbird lean towards defensive strategies, albeit through varied approaches. Void thrives on stealth, utilizing tools like smoke grenades and a camo suit to weave through combat without being detected, perfect for hit-and-run tactics. Meanwhile, Blackbird focuses less on stealth and more on intelligence-gathering, thanks to the ability to scout enemy positions.
Marathon’s complete lineup, as it stands, is shaping up to include:
- Blackbird: Voiced by Nika Futterman, this Runner excels in tactic-based gameplay by scouting opponents.
- Glitch: With Erica Lindbeck as the voice, Glitch is all about quick movements and dominating through superior positioning.
- Locus: Details on the voice actor are still under wraps, but this class encourages aggressive play with its robust offense and weaker defense.
- Void: Played by Elias Toufexis, this Runner uses stealth to their advantage, relying on active camo and smoke to execute flashy escapes.
Two more Runners are expected to be rolled out alongside the game, possibly making their debut before the full release. These classes may even appear in the upcoming closed alpha, although details will remain under wraps due to NDA agreements.
Locus caters to players who prefer charging head-on into battle rather than navigating adversaries strategically. With potent offensive capabilities, Locus encourages a high-risk, high-reward approach. Then there’s Glitch, an agile Runner capitalizing on speed and precise positioning to outmaneuver opponents effectively.
Bungie hinted that the remaining two Runners would be announced ahead of Marathon’s official release. Gamers can test these before the game launches, given that the alpha testers agree to strict non-disclosure conditions to minimize leaks.
As Marathon’s debut nears, the anticipation continues to build, with Bungie carefully unveiling elements to keep fans intrigued without giving away too much before the September launch.
