Marathon has recently had a bad reputation among players. With a new gameplay video, Bungie aims to convince players once again. Additionally, we finally know when the shooter will be released – and how much it will cost.
When will Marathon be released? According to Bungie, Marathon will be released sometime in March 2026. There is no exact date yet, but players will be able to dive into the world of the extraction shooter by March 31 at the latest – unless the release is postponed again. Originally, Marathon was supposed to be released on September 23, 2025, but was then postponed indefinitely.
How much will Marathon cost? The price of Marathon is surprising. Contrary to the trend of video games becoming more expensive, the game will be released at a low price. Bungie will charge only €39.99. This is a lower price than Bungie’s other shooter, Destiny 2, which cost around €60 at launch.
The title is set to be released on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S with full cross play and cross save support.
What else do the developers reveal? With the purchase, all players will have direct access to all future gameplay updates, with new maps, runner classes, and events being introduced throughout the year. Players will also be able to experience the cryo archive, which will be available in season 1.
Additionally, Bungie promises to avoid any “Pay2Win” elements. Whether a team wins will never depend on money spent. You can invest real money into the premium passes. It will be possible to purchase previous premium passes at any time and earn the rewards from them.
In the new video, the developers also showcase revised gameplay for Marathon. Following the disastrous beta, the comments regarding the shown material are very positive.
Marathon showcases new gameplay, excites players
What can be seen in the video? The development team addresses various aspects of the shooter, including:
- Gameplay featuring new features like proximity chat and the new runner class Rook
- The maps Perimeter, Dire Marsh, and Outpost
- The loot and weapons that can be individually customized
- The classes and how they can be tailored to your playstyle
- The factions and the mission you receive from them
Especially the individual maps take up a large part of the video and are shown in detail. With the cryo archive, the developers even unveil heavy content that comes with season 1. Here, players are expected to encounter every possible danger present in the game.
What do the viewers think? In the comments on YouTube, there are many fans who see a significant improvement compared to the previously presented game. Particularly, the soundtrack, which is said to be “bombastic”, and the world, which is described as “always screenshot-worthy”, are well received by players.
They also feel that the gameplay now resembles the short film for the extraction shooter more closely. The improvements to the environment and the change in visual direction have benefitted the game.
Right after the beta, Marathon already showed initial improvements. Even then, the team was working on the graphics of the shooter. However, according to an expert, that might not be enough. He sees other issues that Bungie needs to address: New leaks from Marathon show an improvement, but a shooter expert states: “That’s still not enough.”
