Marathon was originally supposed to release in 2025, but had gotten pushed back due to the team at Bungie needing more time to iron out some kinks and polish up the gameplay. It looks like we’re getting much closer to the finish line, though, as Bungie has just announced that the game will be released in March 2026.
It’s worth noting that Bungie has not actually committed to a concrete release date, but I guess it’s nice to at least know the release month. While the content releases in Marathon will be seasonal, Bungie stated that it wants players to log into the game daily out of love and enjoyment for the game, and not because of a fear of missing out. To that end, all of the reward passes in Marathon can be bought at any time and will never expire. The team went on to state that survival in Marathon will never come down to how much money you’ve spent on the game.
The team has also outlined some of the game’s key features and other functions that we can look forward to in their latest update video:
- New features since alpha, including…
- Proximity chat
- Solo queue
- Rook, a Runner shell used to scavenge matches in progress
- The world and fantasy of Marathon
- Ways we’re doubling down on the dark, gritty, and grounded sci-fi world
- Your role in Marathon–you are the Runner, and you transfer your consciousness into different shells designed with unique capabilities
- Improved visual fidelity and immersion, including…
- Introduction to Marathon’s four zones (maps)
- Three surface zones–Perimeter, Dire Marsh, and Outpost
- The first zone on the UESC Marathon–Cryo Archive, an end-game challenge
- Loot and customization
- Weapons and mods, including ways to customize your gun in unique ways (like turning the Battery SMG into the Needler)
- Runner shell archetypes and ways to customize your playstyles
- Factions and progression
Marathon will be released for PC and consoles in March 2026.
