Marathon Playtest Leak Reveals New Character 'Icon,' Revamped UI, and Map Changes
Fresh details from a recent closed playtest of Bungie's highly anticipated shooter, Marathon, have surfaced online. These leaks offer an early glimpse into new gameplay elements, a brand-new character, and updated maps. The game remains in a confidential testing phase following its delay from the previously projected September 23, 2025 release. Bungie has stated they need more time to refine the project based on feedback from early alpha testers.
Introducing 'Icon' and Her Unique Abilities
According to the leak, shared by well-known data miner and insider Deakstiny, a new character named "Icon" (codenamed "Thief") made an appearance in the playtest. Icon brings a distinct set of abilities to the game:
- Grapple: This ability functions similarly to Pathfinder's grapple hook in Apex Legends, allowing for swift vertical and horizontal movement.
- X-Ray Vision: Players using this ability can see loot containers through walls and highlight the rarity of items, providing a significant advantage in finding valuable gear.
- Loot-Stealing Drone: Icon can deploy a drone that extracts a rare item directly from an enemy's inventory, leaving it nearby for the player to pick up.
Faction Interface Overhaul and Visual Enhancements
The playtest also showcased a complete redesign of Marathon's faction screen interface. All six factions – Cyberacme, Nucaloric, Traxus, MIDA, Arachne, and Sekiguchi – were available, allowing players to complete contracts for them. Faction advisors have received a full visual overhaul, and each faction now features an impressive pre-rendered introductory cinematic, lasting over 30 seconds, which replaces older animations. The source describes these new cinematics as looking "fantastic."
Updated Maps and a First Look at the UESC Marathon Ship
Maps within the playtest also saw significant updates. The first day of testing took place on the "Outpost" map, which now boasts improved graphics and a new environmental hazard: falling sparks that inflict damage over time and increase character overheat. Later, the "Cryo Archive" map was added, set aboard the UESC Marathon ship itself. This marks the first opportunity for players to explore parts of the iconic ship in gameplay. The leak suggests the ship will be represented as several distinct maps rather than one expansive zone.
Bungie's Confidential Playtest and Future Development
It's important to note that all cosmetic items from the previous playtest were disabled, with only standard skins available. Bungie is treating these test materials as highly confidential, having previously issued DMCA takedowns for leaked content. The studio also commenced a new 30-day playtest from September 8 to October 7, requiring participants to play for an hour daily and provide feedback. While these leaked details offer an exciting peek into Marathon's development, it's crucial to remember that they are from a closed test and may change significantly before the official release. Marathon is in development for PC (Steam), Xbox Series, and PlayStation 5.
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