April 13, 2025: Bungie’s Marathon Reboot & Doom Box Edition – Shooter News Roundup

Video Game News Roundup – April 13, 2025

Welcome to our daily roundup of the freshest video game news! In today’s highlights, we have:

  • The release of a unique limited edition of Doom that includes a playable box
  • A comprehensive update on everything we currently know about Bungie’s sci-fi extraction shooter, Marathon
  • What exactly is “carkour”? Well, probably exactly what you think it is…

Unveiling a Limited Edition of Doom in a Unique, Playable Box

Source: PC Gamer – April 13, 2025

It’s a longstanding tradition in PC gaming to port the iconic first-person shooter (FPS), Doom, to each new piece of hardware capable of running it. Last year, id Software pleasantly surprised fans by releasing an updated collection of Doom and Doom 2, optimized for modern hardware. This revamp has been well-received by the gaming community. In response, Limited Run Games has announced a physical release of the Doom + Doom 2 collection. Pre-orders begin on April 18, with options including a standard case, a retro-style large box, or one of 666 exclusive copies of the audaciously priced $666.66 ‘Will It Run Edition’.

Read the full article at PC Gamer →


Marathon: A Comprehensive Look at Bungie’s Revamped Sci-Fi Extraction Shooter

Source: PC Gamer – April 12, 2025

Bungie, the acclaimed studio behind Destiny and Halo, is not yet willing to let go of its ’90s sci-fi FPS series, Marathon. The original trilogy concluded with a release in 1996, but nearly two decades later, Bungie announced a new installment in the Marathon series. This is exciting news for veteran gamers, but it’s important to manage expectations. This won’t be the Marathon we nostalgically remember. In an era where the once-dominant Doom and Quake franchises have evolved, Marathon is set to follow suit. Bungie’s fresh approach to the classic Mac OS trilogy is an extraction shooter, where teams of three runners compete against each other for resources.

Read the full article at PC Gamer →


Former Skyrim Developer Announces Unique Vehicular Free-Running Game

Source: PC Gamer – April 13, 2025

The concept of ‘carkour’, a theoretical blend of car stunts and parkour, was not something I knew I needed until recently. This idea has catapulted to the top of my must-have gaming experiences, bypassing the usual desire for self-improvement and self-fulfillment. Games such as Rocket League and Trackmania may offer similar experiences, but they lack the innovative name. This is where the newly announced game Deedlee Doo! Carkour hopes to make its mark. This game, dedicated to vehicular free-running, plans to leverage this unique concept to its advantage.

Read the full article at PC Gamer →


Trump Tariffs Update: Electronic Devices, Including Computers, Now Exempt From Steep Levies on China

Source: PC Gamer – April 12, 2025

The Trump administration, in a recent announcement, has granted an exemption for smartphones, computers, and other electronic devices/components from the United States’ new tariff regime. This exemption also extends to the significant 125% tariffs placed on China, as reported by The Guardian. The instability and constant shifts in the tariff landscape have led to a sense of confusion. The market’s response has been mixed, with periods of low activity interspersed with bursts of optimism. The future trajectory of this situation is unpredictable, with opinions ranging from impending economic depression to a return to stability.

Read the full article at PC Gamer →


Marathon Opts Out of Proximity Chat Due to Potential Toxicity: ‘A Solution Has Yet to be Found’

Source: PC Gamer – April 12, 2025

We’ve all had that moment of revelation where we discover the chaotic potential of proximity chat. Proximity chat, initially a feature of military simulation games, has now been incorporated into battle royales and, more recently, extraction shooters. Proximity chat is indeed an innovative tool for our contemporary gaming landscape. However, it comes with a significant drawback: If a player is within range, you are subjected to their comments, pleasant or otherwise, until you choose to mute them.

Read the full article at PC Gamer →


Oscar Winner Creates Stunning 8-Minute Short for Bungie’s Marathon

Source: PC Gamer – April 12, 2025

Bungie’s Marathon gameplay reveal stream concluded today with an unexpected twist: An eight-minute animation that beautifully illustrates the game’s lore. It vividly depicts the grueling life of runners on Tau Ceti IV, highlighting their continued struggle for survival and fortune. Their frequent deaths add a grim undertone to the narrative. I had the opportunity to preview this short over a week ago at Bungie’s Seattle office during a two-day playtest. The quality and narrative depth of this short are truly commendable, arguably making it one of the best game-related animations in recent memory.

The credit for the remarkable quality of the short goes to Alberto Mielgo, an acclaimed director who bagged the Best Animated Short Film Oscar for ‘The Windshield Wiper’ in 2021.

Read the full article at PC Gamer →


Participating in the Marathon Alpha Test: When and How

Source: PC Gamer – April 12, 2025

Bungie is stepping into the extraction shooter genre with the upcoming Marathon game, and you can participate in its alpha test later this month. The official launch of Marathon is slated for September this year, but before that, Bungie plans to conduct alpha and beta tests. Our initial playthrough suggests that Marathon is Bungie’s classic first-person shooter experience repackaged in a new live service format, distinct from Destiny 2. This first alpha test will allow selected players to explore four unique characters, referred to as “runners”, and two different maps. Gameplay will be based on teams of three players, engaging in both player versus player and player versus environment elements, to successfully extract with acquired gear and completed contracts.

Read the full article at PC Gamer →


‘Heroes of Valor’: The Playable Successor to ‘Battlefield Heroes’

Source: PC Gamer – April 13, 2025

Looking for a catchy pitch for a forthcoming game? Look no further than ‘Heroes of Valor’. Iceberg Interactive, the game’s publisher, describes it as “the Battlefield Heroes you can actually play.” This bold statement is an apparent nod to the game’s inspiration and its positioning as a successor to the long-gone free-to-play shooter, ‘Battlefield Heroes’.

Currently, ‘Heroes of Valor’ is offering a free playtest on Steam, with plans for an early access release in the near future. The third-person shooter is set in a stylized World War 2 environment. In its current stage of development, it features four distinct hero infantry classes, each offering unique abilities. The game also boasts an array of vehicles including tanks, planes, and motorcycles.

Read the full article at PC Gamer →


Everything You Need to Know About Bungie’s Upcoming Sci-Fi Shooter: Marathon

Source: Kotaku – April 12, 2025

Bungie’s upcoming game, Marathon, appears to be a vibrant, cybernetic take on the extraction shooter genre, reminiscent of Escape from Tarkov. Yet, it promises to bear the unique imprint of Bungie’s creative spin. The studio behind Halo and Destiny revealed intriguing details about this ambitious project, which is slated for release later this year. Is it simply a more intense version of Destiny PvP, or does it offer a refreshing, more accessible gaming experience? Here’s a recap of all the insights we’ve gleaned so far.

The latest episode of “The Week In Games” provides an in-depth look at Marathon. The episode features a new gameplay trailer, an extended overview of the shooter’s mechanics, and a cinematic short. Directed by Alberto Mielgo of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse fame, the short film hints at the thrilling potential, possibilities, and daunting challenges inherent in a game fundamentally about corporations cloning gig workers and subjecting them to relentless violence for meager profit margins.

For more details, read the full article at Kotaku →


Sigil 2, John Romero’s Brutal Megawad, Officially Joins Bethesda’s Doom + Doom 2 Remaster

Source: PC Gamer – April 13, 2025

The remaster of Doom + Doom 2, led by Bethesda and Nightdive Studios, has been hailed as an impressive revamp of the iconic FPS and its sequel. Not only did it update the classics, but it also unified all additional adventures of the original Doom under one haunting, pentagram-etched banner. This remaster incorporated the base games, Doom II’s master levels, the two parts of Final Doom, and a fresh official campaign by MachineGames called Legacy of Rust. However, one significant piece was missing from the remaster’s ensemble of canonical and semi-canonical adventures—Sigil 2. The sixth episode of Doom, Sigil 2 was designed by John Romero, co-creator of Doom and a renowned figure in the FPS world. It features nine new levels (including two secret ones) that follow the events of the original Doom.

Read the full article at PC Gamer →

Join the Discussion

Which gaming news captured your interest today? Is it the upcoming Marathon game or the remastered versions of Doom that has piqued your excitement? We invite you to share your thoughts and insights in the comments section below!