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Bungie Reveals Marathon Voice Cast and March 2026 Release Date
Entertainment

Bungie Reveals Marathon Voice Cast and March 2026 Release Date

IGN4h ago
3 min read
📋

Key Facts

  • ✓ Bungie has officially set the launch date for Marathon as March 5, 2026, marking the end of a prolonged period of silence and delays.
  • ✓ The English voice cast includes Jennifer English, who won Best Performance at the 2025 Game Awards for her role in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
  • ✓ Parent company Sony reported a $200 million impairment charge after Bungie failed to meet specific sales and user engagement targets for its portfolio.
  • ✓ The game faced accusations of plagiarism in May regarding its visual design, adding to the development challenges the studio has navigated.
  • ✓ Marathon is scheduled for release on PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and Steam, with pre-orders currently available.

In This Article

  1. Quick Summary
  2. A Star-Studded Cast
  3. Development Challenges
  4. The Road to Launch
  5. Looking Ahead

Quick Summary#

Bungie has officially confirmed the launch date for its highly anticipated extraction shooter, Marathon, while simultaneously unveiling a voice cast packed with award-winning talent. The studio announced that the game will release on March 5, 2026, ending months of speculation following a series of delays.

The announcement comes with a comprehensive list of voice actors, featuring prominent names from the gaming industry. This strategic reveal aims to build momentum for the title, which faces significant expectations following a challenging development cycle and financial pressures at its parent company, Sony.

A Star-Studded Cast#

The English voice cast for Marathon is described as "stacked" by community observers, featuring a breadth of talent from recent award-winning titles. Leading the cast is Jennifer English, who secured the Best Performance award at the 2025 Game Awards for her role in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. She is also widely recognized for her portrayal of Shadowheart in Baldur's Gate 3 and roles in Elden Ring.

Joining English is Ben Starr, known for his work in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hades II, and Final Fantasy 16. The cast also includes Roger Clark, celebrated for his performance in Red Dead Redemption 2, and Neil Newbon, who played Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3 and appeared in Resident Evil 3 Remake.

The full roster of talent includes:

  • Jennifer English (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Elden Ring)
  • Ben Starr (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Hades II)
  • Roger Clark (Red Dead Redemption 2)
  • Neil Newbon (Baldur's Gate 3, Resident Evil 3)
  • Elias Toufexis (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)
  • Nika Futterman (Destiny, Doom Eternal)
  • Erica Lindbeck (Fortnite, God of War Ragnarok)
  • Reina Guthrie (Squid Game)
  • Elliot Knight (Call of Duty series)
  • JB Tadena (Call of Duty: Vanguard)
  • Morla Gorrondona (Destiny 2: The Final Shape)
  • Donnla Hughes
  • Darin De Paul (Overwatch 2, Doom Eternal)
  • Lee Shorten (Ghost of Yotei, Rise of the Ronin)
  • Dave Fennoy (The Walking Dead, The Wolf Among Us)
  • Tracy Wiles (Baldur's Gate 3, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
  • Fred Tatasciore (Marvel Rivals, Destiny 2)
  • Krizia Bajos (The Outer Worlds 2, Mafia: The Old Country)
  • Samantha Beart (Baldur's Gate 3, Demon's Souls)
  • Beau Bridgland (Exoprimal)
  • Ry Chase (Destiny: Rising, Marvel's Spider-Man 2)
  • Keston John (Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, The Outer Worlds 2)
  • Sohm Kapila (Dune: Awakening, Hogwarts Legacy)
  • Rich Keeble (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Total War: Warhammer III)
  • Piotr Michael (Star Trek: Resurgence, Black Ops Cold War)
  • Brent Mukai (Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Ghost of Yotei)
  • Ariana Nicole George (Genshin Impact, Dynasty Warriors: Origins)
  • Emily O'Brien (League of Legends, Final Fantasy 14, Starfield)
  • Jason Spisak (Doom Eternal, Fortnite, Anthem)
  • Craig Lee Thomas (Octopath Traveler 0, DC: Dark Legion)
  • Oliver Vaquer (Dune: Awakening, Death Stranding)
  • Erin Yvette (Oxenfree, The Wolf Among Us, Firewatch)
  • Scott Whyte (Marvel Rivals, Halo Infinite, Avowed)

The alphabetical ordering of the list, with the exception of the initial front-runners, suggests that the top-billed actors may be portraying the central characters players will encounter in the game.

"That's… stacked lol."

— Community Commenter

Development Challenges#

The confirmation of the release date follows a turbulent period for the project. Marathon was originally delayed into 2026 last June, a move intended to allow the development team to respond to feedback gathered during playtests. The game remained relatively quiet until October, when Bungie announced an invite-only playtest for players in North America and Europe across PS5, Xbox Series X and S, and Steam.

Financially, the project carries significant weight for Sony, Bungie's parent company. Late last year, Sony disclosed that Bungie had failed to meet its sales and user engagement targets, resulting in a $200 million impairment charge. This financial pressure places high stakes on the successful launch of Marathon.

In addition to financial hurdles, the development team has navigated controversy. In May, the studio faced accusations of plagiarism after an artist alleged that Bungie lifted aspects of her artwork for the visual design of Marathon. These challenges underscore the intense scrutiny the title is under as it approaches its launch window.

The Road to Launch#

With the launch now less than two months away, pre-orders are officially open, signaling the final push toward release. The game is positioned as an extraction shooter, a genre that has grown in popularity but remains competitive. The studio is leveraging its pedigree from the Destiny franchise while attempting to carve out a new identity with Marathon.

The transition from limited playtests to a full public release represents a critical phase. The feedback received during the October playtest was instrumental in shaping the final version of the game. Now, the focus shifts to delivering a polished experience that meets the expectations of a player base familiar with high-quality production values.

"That's… stacked lol."

This reaction from a commenter highlights the community's immediate response to the caliber of talent involved in the project. The presence of such recognizable voices is expected to add significant narrative depth and emotional resonance to the game's world.

Looking Ahead#

Marathon stands at a pivotal moment. The combination of a March 5, 2026 release date and a voice cast featuring some of the industry's most acclaimed performers sets a high bar for the title. The game must now deliver on its promise to justify the studio's investment and the anticipation built over the last year.

As the release date approaches, all eyes will be on how Bungie balances the extraction shooter mechanics with the narrative weight provided by its star-studded cast. The success of Marathon will likely influence the studio's future direction and its standing within the competitive gaming landscape.

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