I've been trying to distill my thoughts and feelings about playing Marathon into something easily communicable and I keep coming back to Season 6, Episode 13 of The Simpsons. In the episode, titled "And Maggie Makes Three," Homer learns that he's become a father for the third time and, in response, reacts with a despondent thumbs up that simultaneously acknowledges that something good has happened but that it also creates the potential for stress, hardship, and maybe even disappointment. I hate to reduce playing an alpha version of the next game from the team behind Halo and Destiny to a reaction meme deployed by millennials in group chats, but the accuracy of what homersadthumbsup.jpg conveys is undeniable.

After around eight hours of gameplay where I faced off against developers, content creators, and members of the press, I left Bungie's Bellevue studio keen to play more of its high-stakes PvPvE multiplayer game. And at the same time, I couldn't deny that I had serious concerns about the experience that its compulsive gameplay loop is couched within. Putting it plainly, I'm worried Marathon could launch as a solid multiplayer shooter that is brimming with potential but thin on content. And in the dog-eat-dog world of multiplayer games, that could be a major issue.

Even in its alpha stage, what made playing Marathon so compelling was immediately evident. It took just one match of running, gunning, looting, and extracting to identify that the core of the experience leverages Bungie's pedigree as a best-in-class first-person-shooter developer. As longtime Halo or Destiny players can attest to, there's a satisfying texture in the moment-to-moment gameplay that makes Bungie's games hard to put down. The satisfying thump of a melee kill or the glee that comes from sticking an enemy with a plasma grenade has carried Halo through multiple generations. And deep loot-based progression layered on top of that gives Destiny a gravitational pull that's hard to escape. Marathon has all that, but within the framework of an extraction shooter. For those not familiar, this is a relatively new flavor of multiplayer shooter that takes the thrills of PvP and marries it with the tension of battle royale to create a game about dropping in, grabbing resources, and then making it to an extraction point to get out with your goodies in a single life.

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Bungie's new shooter Marathon was the focus of a livestream event today in which the company shared lots of new information about it, including a release date. Marathon will launch on September 23, which is the same day that Gearbox's highly anticipated Borderlands 4 arrives. It's expected that GTA 6 will follow soon after, potentially in October.

Marathon, which is a successor to Bungie's 1994 game of the same name, is headed to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The game supports cross-play and cross-saves for all platforms.

Also during the livestream event today, Bungie announced that a closed alpha test for Marathon will begin in April--here's how to sign up for the Marathon closed alpha.

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As part of the Bungie's reveal showcase for its next game, Marathon, the studio announced a closed alpha test and confirmed how players can sign up for access.

The Marathon closed alpha starts later this month, and players can join the Marathon Discord channel for a chance to get in. Bungie said its teams will be "actively engaging" with the Discord channel, including conducting live Q&As and generally discussing the project directly with fans.

Marathon is a team-based extraction shooter. It's a successor of sorts to Bungie's 1994 game of the same name. Whereas Bungie today is better known for its work on the Destiny and Halo franchises, the original Marathon was one of Bungie's first big successes when it was released for Mac and Apple Pippin.

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Travel back to the ruthless world of ancient Rome, where gladiators fight for their lives and the crowd demands blood. In Gladiators Simulator : The Champions of Liberty, you manage your own arena, training fighters and organizing breathtaking events to captivate the audience. Step into the sandals of a gladiator, rising from slavery to challenge fierce opponents and beasts, with one goal -freedom. Buy arenas, gear up with powerful weapons and armor, and develop strategies to outwit your enemies. The emperor has called for bread and circuses - will you deliver the ultimate spectacle?

Shape Drop is a fast-paced arcade game where precision and timing are everything. Navigate your way through a series of rotating shapes, skillfully dropping and jumping to avoid deadly spikes. Your goal is simple, guide the ball past tricky obstacles and into the tube to advance. Take on thrilling, heart-pounding jumps and daring drops as you push your reflexes to the limit. Unlock a variety of unique balls as you conquer endless levels filled with ever-increasing challenges.

Trails Beyond the Horizon Deluxe Edition

$60 | Releases Fall 2025

Preorder at Amazon

Trails Beyond the Horizon Collector's Edition

$100 | Releases Fall 2025

Preorder at NIS America Online Store

The latest entry in the Trails RPG series, Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon launches on PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC later this Fall. Publisher NIS America has not yet announced a specific release date, but fans who are eager to secure their copy can preorder Trails Beyond the Horizon now. If you plan to add a physical copy to your collection, there's the $60 Trails Beyond the Horizon Deluxe Edition and a $100 Collector's Edition, both of which include the game and a few exclusive extras.

Trails Beyond the Horizon Preorder Bonuses

No preorder bonuses have been announced yet, but considering the Deluxe and Collector's Editions include a selection of extras--and the Collector's Edition, in particular, is likely to sell out--it's worth preordering them soon to ensure you get all the goodies. We will update this section if any preorder bonuses are announced.

Trails Beyond the Horizon Deluxe Edition $60 | Releases Fall 2025

The Trails Beyond the Horizon Deluxe Edition is the only physical version of the game available to preorder. It includes a boxed copy of the game plus a mini art book and a download code for a digital soundtrack, all for just $60. It's available to preorder on PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.

Preorder at Amazon Trails Beyond the Horizon Collector's Edition $100 | Releases Fall 2025

A Trails Beyond the Horizon Collector's Edition is also available exclusively from the NIS America store. It includes everything from the Deluxe Edition, plus a steelbook case, a physical copy of the soundtrack, an acrylic clock and standee set, and a collector's box.

Preorder at NIS America Online Store

Trails Beyond the Horizon is the third game in the Trails Through Daybreak arc, which kicked off a new story arc in the long-running series, making it a good jumping-on point for anyone interested in checking out the massive Trails franchise for the first time. You'll need to catch up on Trails Through Daybreak and Trails Through Daybreak II before playing Trails Beyond the Horizon--but that's an easier task than jumping back to the very beginning of the series. Both Daybreak games are available at Amazon.

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Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

$60 | Releases September 25

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The game that kicked off the long-running Legend of Heroes RPG series is getting a remake with Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, which launches on PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC on September 25. The game is an all-new version of the original Trails in the Sky, remaking the PS3 and PS Vita game with full 3D high-res visuals, new voice acting, and overhauled gameplay. Whether you're a long-time fan of the series wanting to revisit the classic entry in a new way, or are looking to experience it for the first time, you can preorder physical copies now at Amazon and Best Buy.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Preorder Bonuses

No preorder bonuses have been announced for Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter. We'll update this section if anything is revealed ahead of launch.

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter $60 | Releases September 25

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter standard edition is the only version of the game announced so far. Physical PS5 and Nintendo Switch preorders are available at Amazon and Best Buy. Digital preorders are also available.

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Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a remake of Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky. It will return players to where the long-running Trails series began. The game follows adoptive siblings Joshua and Estelle Bright, who join the Bracers peacekeeping organization. They're soon caught up in an international conspiracy and must join forces with various other characters to thwart a deadly coup. While it will maintain the same plot as the PS3 version, it uses the same engine as the latest entry in the series, Trails Through Daybreak, and will feature an all-new English voice acting class. There will also be a long list of gameplay changes, the most notable being the inclusion of two battle systems--one is a revised version of the original version's turn-based combat, and the other is a real-time system, and you'll be able to swap between on the fly.

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Victrix Pro FS Arcade Stick for PS5, PS4, & PC (White or Purple)

$220 (was $400)

See at Woot

Victrix Pro FS-12 Arcade Stick for PlayStation & PC (Purple)

$170 (was $400)

See at Woot

Fighting game fans who want to upgrade from a traditional controller to a premium fight stick--or an all-button fight pad--can get the popular Victrix Pro FS or FS-12 for their all-time lowest prices. Both models retail for $400, but Woot's Spring Video Game Sale drops those prices down to $220 for the FS Arcade Stick and only $170 for the leverless FS-12. The traditional stick is up for grabs in purple and white, but the deal on the 12-button model only includes the purple edition. The white variant was previously available for $180 but has since sold out.

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Nintendo's long-awaited Switch 2 system finally arrives on June 5, and the company is ushering it in with two marquee titles. Just a few weeks after the console hits the market alongside Mario Kart World, Nintendo will release Donkey Kong Bananza, a brand-new adventure game starring the iconic, banana-loving ape.

Bananza marks the first full 3D Donkey Kong title in over 20 years, and it's a stunning showpiece for the new system, featuring impressive visuals and fully destructible environments that DK can pummel with his earth-shattering punches. Nintendo will undoubtedly share more details about the game in the weeks leading up to its launch, but in the meantime, here's a roundup of everything we know so far about Donkey Kong Bananza.

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• When Will Donkey Kong Bananza Be Released?

When Will Donkey Kong Bananza Be Released?

Donkey Kong Bananza launches for the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025.

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EA Sports hasn't even officially announced College Football 26, but now more details about the game have emerged from an unexpected source. The home improvement chain Lowe's has announced a collaboration with EA Sports to feature its branding in CFB 26, along with the newest EA Sports FC and Madden NFL titles.

Lowe's branding will appear in these games "across multiple gameplay experiences," the retailer said. For CFB 26, Lowe's branding will show up on the broadcast overlay for the Stadium Pulse feature. This feature aims to replicate the pressure of playing an away game by making certain gameplay elements more difficult for a short period of time. Lowe's said this draws "meaningful parallels to the passion homeowners feel when enhancing their own spaces with Lowe's."

A render of the Lowe's interactive gaming experience that's going on a road trip.

In EA Sports FC and Madden NFL, Lowe's branding will show up in the popular Ultimate Team modes.

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