The more I see of anything related to Bungie’s Marathon, the more I appreciate its art direction. It’s a clear upgrade from the original’s diluted style, which was centered around a derelict space station. Now, the environment of Tau Ceti IV and the weird-but-stylish design choices of the Runners give me hope that something genuinely special is coming when Marathon launches this September 23rd.
I say this because the initial feedback from the game’s reveal last weekend was pretty polarizing. While some people appreciated Bungie’s new IP, others weren’t interested at all in its tired “extraction-shooter” genre. However, I found myself gravitating toward the game’s insanely cool art style.
Dubbed “graphic realism” by Marathon’s Art Director, Joseph Cross, this weird yet grounded take on the sci-fi aesthetic works well in a world where humanity has reached a new understanding of science and technology. On paper, the environment might look like a bunch of Roblox-style cubes with neon highlights, but upon closer inspection, you can see how intentional everything is.
Marathon takes place in the colony world Tau Ceti IV, which is now clearly devastated after an invasion by extraterrestrial species which we assume are the Pfhor. Its setting doesn’t need flashy architecture or monumental design; it just needs to be functional. The game’s first map (which will also be part of the upcoming closed beta), called Dire Marsh, puts this graphic realism into action. Utilitarian aesthetics are scattered throughout the buildings, surrounded by thick, dense marshland.
Even the weapons and character designs follow this same design philosophy. The weapons (something Bungie has consistently nailed) look like 3D-printed gear that could actually exist in a world like Marathon. They’re cheap, practical, and the gunplay feels smooth according to playtesters. Even better, the UI is compact and simple, aligning perfectly with the game’s utilitarian vibe.
The Runners, on the other hand, ooze a certain flair—but you can also tell they’re meant to be expendable. This is made clear by the in-universe genetic manufacturer, Sekiguchi Genetics, which explains why the Runners come back as the same familiar classes each time.
What really sold me on Marathon’s art direction, though, was the cinematic reveal short film directed by Alberto Mielgo (Love, Death + Robots’ “Jibaro” and “The Witness”). The eight-and-a-half-minute cinematic captured the bleak, unsettling reality of life on Tau Ceti IV, and the sheer disposability of the Runners. Final Fantasy XVI’s Clive Rosfield, Ben Starr, narrated the short-film’s unique take on Percy Shelley’s poem ‘Ozymandias.’
I’m saying all this because, despite Marathon’s somewhat baffling decision to go the extraction shooter route, what’s pulled me in is just how unique its art direction is. We’ve said the same about Destiny’s vibrant worlds and planets, and about Halo’s iconic ringworlds.
Now, with Marathon, Tau Ceti IV looks like Bungie’s new playground—a space where their insanely talented art team can truly experiment. And honestly, it’s only just getting started. I can’t wait to get my hands on the game.