After a rocky Alpha playtest and a few legal disputes, Bungie has re-introduced Marathon.
Bungie is taking another swing at Marathon after a rocky start. The alpha playtest earlier this year received mixed reactions, and the studio faced a legal dispute when an artist claimed that designs from her 2017 work had been used without credit, which was resolved two weeks ago.
Now, Bungie have unveiled a revamped vision for Marathon, revealing that the game will launch in March 2026, cost US$39.99, and include a wide range of gameplay updates shaped by player feedback.
The reveal comes via a new ViDoc released alongside an extensive developer post, which makes it clear that Marathon still exists. Bungie are framing its comeback as a course correction that leans harder into survival tension, social interaction, and mechanical flexibility, while also borrowing lessons from the extraction scene’s recent heavy hitters.
Marathon confirmed for March 2026
Marathon is set to launch in March 2026, and will cost US$39.99 as a one-time purchase, putting it in the same range as online shooters like Helldivers 2 and Arc Raiders rather than a full-price release.
Buying the game gives full access to Marathon and all planned gameplay updates, which will be released for free over time. Season 1 will begin with the Cryo Archive, an end-game zone aboard the UESC Marathon, alongside new maps, Runner shells, and live events throughout the year.
Reward Passes will not expire, allowing players to unlock older seasonal tracks at any time. The studio has also confirmed that spending money will not affect competitive balance, with survival in Marathon determined by skill rather than purchases.
Proximity chat and solo queue mark a clear shift since alpha
Some of the biggest changes since the alpha are mechanical, and they read like direct responses to community feedback.
Despite earlier concerns around toxicity, Marathon will launch with proximity chat. Its absence during the alpha stood out in a genre built on emergent encounters, and Bungie is now clearly leaning into the unpredictable social layer that defines modern extraction shooters.
Solo queue is also confirmed. Bungie has moved away from forcing solo players into squad-only environments, acknowledging how important lone play is to the genre. Supporting that shift is a new Runner shell called “Rook”.
Rook is designed for low-risk scavenging. It allows players to drop into matches already in progress with a limited loadout, gather loot, and extract without putting previously earned gear at risk. Comparisons to Arc Raiders’ free loadouts are inevitable, but Bungie frame Rook as an evolution of ideas that existed in earlier builds.
Expect a darker sci-fi tone and tougher PvE encounters
Beyond headline features, Bungie are also pushing harder on Marathon’s atmosphere. The latest footage emphasises a darker and grittier sci-fi tone, with improved environmental storytelling and a stronger focus on audio as a survival tool.
Dead Runners now leave behind corpses that decay over time, reinforcing a sense of persistence in the world. Visual fidelity has been improved across the board, and immersion was a key focus during post-alpha development.
PvE has also been reworked. Enemy AI is now described as deadlier and more meaningful to the extraction loop, rather than something players can ignore. The ViDoc showcases armed bipedal robots and scanning drones, with Bungie positioning PvE threats as a genuine source of tension.
That said, the footage stops short of showing enemy types on the scale of Arc Raiders’ larger encounters, and systems like protected inventory slots remain unclear.
Maps, factions, and what it means to be a Runner
At launch, Marathon will feature four distinct zones. Three are surface maps, Perimeter, Dire Marsh, and Outpost, while the Cryo Archive aboard the UESC Marathon serves as an end-game challenge.
Players take on the role of a Runner by transferring their consciousness into different shells, each with unique capabilities and archetypes that shape their playstyle. Weapons and mods are highly customisable, including experimental conversions such as turning the Battery SMG into a Needler-style weapon.
Progression is tied to factions that issue jobs ranging from sabotage to targeted destruction. Completing these tasks feeds into faction upgrade trees, with capstone rewards available each season. The Codex tracks achievements and narrative discoveries, unlocking cosmetics and lore for players who dig deeper.
The reveal also detailed upcoming seasonal updates, with free gameplay additions planned after launch, starting with the Cryo Archive zone in Season 1.
Further details on future playtests, seasonal content, and the game’s roadmap are expected to be announced ahead of release.
