After years of silence beyond Destiny 2 expansions, Bungie is finally stepping back into the spotlight with Marathon, a sci-fi shooter that blends the studio’s classic narrative DNA with a modern extraction-shooter framework. First teased in 2023 and now officially locked in for release on March 5, 2026, Marathon represents Bungie’s most ambitious new IP revival in decades. Set on the hauntingly abandoned colony world of Tau Ceti IV, the game aims to compete head-on with genre standouts like Escape from Tarkov and the breakout hit ARC Raiders.

For longtime Bungie fans and newcomers alike, Marathon is shaping up to be more than just another live-service shooter—it’s a return to roots, reimagined for a new era.

Release Date and Platforms

Bungie has confirmed that Marathon will launch globally on March 5, 2026, following a delay from its original September 2025 window. The delay came after a high-profile stolen artwork controversy, which led Bungie to conduct a full audit of in-game and marketing assets. While setbacks like this often raise concerns, Bungie used the extra time to meaningfully improve the game.

Since early alpha tests, Marathon has seen notable additions such as proximity chat, a solo queue option, deeper audio design, and more robust environmental storytelling. These changes suggest the delay was less about damage control and more about refinement.

At launch, Marathon will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with full cross-play and cross-save enabled from day one. Whether you’re playing on console or PC, progression will carry seamlessly across platforms.

Price and Live-Service Model

In a market dominated by free-to-play shooters, Bungie is taking a calculated risk. Marathon will launch with a $39.99 price tag. While the game will include live-service elements and optional microtransactions, Bungie has been clear that it will not be free-to-play.

This pricing puts Marathon in the same category as ARC Raiders, which launched at a similar cost and managed to maintain strong player engagement. For players on console ecosystems, purchasing the game digitally may involve topping up balances with options like an Xbox Live Key, depending on platform preference.

Story: The Mystery of Tau Ceti IV

One of Marathon’s biggest strengths lies in its narrative legacy. The original Marathon trilogy, released between 1994 and 1996, was Bungie’s first exploration of themes like rogue AI, fragmented identity, and interstellar conflict. The 2026 reboot is not a remake, but a direct continuation set fifty years after the original games.

Taking place in the year 2850, the new Marathon returns players to Tau Ceti IV—the very planet the original colony ship was meant to settle. The colony is now abandoned, its inhabitants vanished without explanation. This mystery forms the backbone of the game’s ongoing narrative.

Players assume the role of Runners, cybernetic mercenaries who have abandoned their human bodies in favor of enhanced abilities. Hired by competing factions, Runners are sent to scavenge the ruins of the colony for valuable technology, resources, and secrets. As a live-service game, Marathon will unfold its story gradually through events, seasonal content, and environmental clues, echoing Bungie’s proven storytelling style from Destiny and Halo.

Gameplay: Fast-Paced Extraction Action

At its core, Marathon is a PvPvE extraction shooter built around teams of three. Players drop into hostile zones, fight AI enemies and rival teams, collect loot, and attempt to extract safely. Success means keeping your gear for future runs; failure means losing everything you carried in.

This risk-reward loop is central to the tension of every match. Bungie is aiming for a faster, more fluid experience than many traditional extraction shooters, making gunplay and movement feel immediately responsive.

While team play is encouraged, Marathon also supports solo players through a no-fill option. However, venturing alone on Tau Ceti IV will be significantly more challenging, especially with roaming security robots and hostile alien creatures patrolling the environment.

Players can choose from a growing roster of Runner classes, each with a Prime ability, a Tactical ability, and two Traits. The confirmed classes so far—Blackbird, Glitch, Locust, Void, and Rook—offer distinct playstyles, and teams are free to stack the same class if they choose. Bungie has also confirmed that more Runners will be added after launch.

A High-Stakes Comeback for Bungie

Marathon marks Bungie’s first entirely new game in nine years and its first major release under the PlayStation Studios umbrella since Sony acquired the company in 2022. The live-service shooter space is undeniably competitive, but the extraction genre continues to show strong demand.

With its striking art direction, deep lore roots, and refined gameplay systems, Marathon has the potential to stand out as a faster, more accessible alternative to slower, hyper-tactical extraction shooters. Whether it ultimately thrives will depend on long-term support and how well Bungie balances risk, reward, and progression.

For now, Marathon feels like a confident step forward—a familiar Bungie universe reborn for a new generation of sci-fi shooter fans. For players looking for a full breakdown of the new Marathon, Buy PSN Gift Card to provide a helpful experience.