Marathon Finally Gets Release Window and Price After Long Delay
▼ Summary
– Bungie has announced that its rebooted extraction shooter Marathon will launch for PlayStation 5 and PC in March 2026, priced at £35/$40/€40.
– The game was previously delayed indefinitely in response to negative community feedback following a divisive alpha playtest in April.
– The project has faced numerous challenges, including leadership changes, legal issues, and a plagiarism scandal since its 2023 reveal.
– A new 20-minute gameplay breakdown outlines improvements made since the alpha, including enhanced visuals, proximity chat, and new solo modes.
– Bungie describes Marathon as offering a rich world of lore and loot for players to discover upon its release.
After a significant delay driven by player feedback, Bungie has finally announced a solid launch window and pricing for its highly anticipated Marathon reboot. The live-service extraction shooter is now scheduled to arrive on PlayStation 5 and PC in March 2026, with a price point set at £34.99, $39.99, or €39.99. This places it in the same bracket as other notable titles like Helldivers 2 and the recently released Concord.
The journey to this announcement has been notably turbulent. Bungie first formally revealed the project in May 2023, but the game’s major showcase this past April was met with a lukewarm reception. That event followed a period of internal leadership changes, legal issues, and even a plagiarism controversy. An alpha playtest around the same time further divided potential players, leading Bungie to make a decisive move. The studio postponed the original September 23rd launch indefinitely, committing to use the extra time for substantial improvements based on that critical community input.
While details have been scarce in the months following the delay, a recent financial comment from Sony hinted that the project was still on track for the current fiscal year. Bungie’s latest update provides the crucial specifics fans have been waiting for. Alongside the March 2026 release date and confirmed price, the studio released an extensive twenty-minute gameplay video. This new footage is designed to showcase the tangible progress made since the divisive alpha test.
Key enhancements highlighted in the new breakdown include noticeable upgrades to the game’s overall visual fidelity and the implementation of a proximity chat system. Responding to player desires for different ways to experience the game, Bungie is also introducing a dedicated Solo Runner queue and a distinct mode called Rook, described as a “solo scavenger experience.” These additions aim to provide more tailored gameplay options beyond the core team-based extraction loops.
In a statement accompanying the news, Bungie extended an invitation to both veteran alpha testers and newcomers. The studio emphasized a “rich world full of lore and loot” awaiting players when they first step into the role of a cybernetic runner. This latest information marks a pivotal step for Marathon, transitioning it from a project shrouded in uncertainty to one with a clear path to market, albeit later than originally hoped. The coming months will likely reveal more about whether these refinements can successfully win over the skeptical audience that prompted the delay in the first place.
(Source: Euro Gamer)
