Previously dormant computer terminals in Bungie’s new extraction shooter are now turned on and someone is talking to players. And he’s perhaps the most important character in the entire series. Marathon franchise, voiced by one of the biggest names in video games.
When Marathon launched on Thursday, one could find powered-off computer terminals that looked a lot like those found in Bungie’s game. original classic Marathon trilogy released in the 90s. At the time, these terminals provided text logs telling the story of Marathon. They often took the form of different AIs chatting with the player or proposing new missions. Most often, players communicated with psychotic but intelligent AI Durandal, the main villain (?) of the OG trilogy, who wanted to escape the inevitable collapse of the universe in order to become immortal. Suddenly, the terminals are online, and it appears that Durandal is talking to the players who find them.
March 6just over 24 hours after Bungie’s launch Marathon On consoles and PC, a new level has been unlocked for players level 12 and above to explore and loot. But around the same time, players discovered that the classic looking terminals were now active. These terminals can show locations on the map, and if you head to the indicated location, you will find another classic terminal and hear a voice.
👀Durandal #Marathon
Credit: __meh pic.twitter.com/2BXVaTHiec
– Marathon Codec (@MarathonCodec) March 6, 2026
This certainly sounds like Ben Starr, who voiced the “narrator” in last year’s film. Marathon Short CG. Many fans believed at the time that Ben Starr was actually voicing Durandal. There was even a hint of this in the credits. Now, it appears Starr’s “narrator” is back and talking to players through terminals in Marathon. But I’d bet all my shields in my Marathon that the voice heard in videos shared online by players is none other than Durandal.
What does this mean? Well, I’m not sure. I am not one Marathon knowledge expert at all. However, the fact that Durandal appears to taunt players via terminals that appear to be connected to an ARG involving Marathonthe next “endgame” level of, Cryogenic archives, makes me suspect this isn’t the last we hear about the maniacal AI. In fact, I bet Bungie continues to update Marathon and add more content, we will hear more Durandal and other classics Marathon characters from the trilogy. Maybe one day I’ll be able to shoot a S’pht in the face again?
