Bungie Details Free Seasonal Model for Marathon Ahead of March Launch
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Bungie has confirmed that all seasonal updates for Marathon will be free for everyone, with the $39.99 extraction shooter featuring roughly three-month seasons that dynamically change the game world.
Bungie has outlined the seasonal roadmap for Marathon as the extraction shooter approaches its upcoming March launch. According to details shared by the studio via its official X account and reported by Connor Makar at Eurogamer, all upcoming seasonal updates will be completely free for everyone who purchases the base game. Priced at $39.99, the title will avoid gating core seasonal content behind additional paywalls, a welcome approach for players evaluating modern multiplayer ecosystems. Each season is slated to run for roughly three months, with Bungie promising that the game world will feel meaningfully different as updates roll out over time.
The launch content for Season 1 kicks off immediately with a community-driven unlock objective for a fourth zone named Cryo Archive, featuring security puzzles, frozen vaults, and a mysterious entity tied to the game lore. Competitive players can also expect a ranked mode later in March, offering exclusive seasonal rewards for those who climb the ladder. The initial release package rounds out with the inclusion of the sixth runner shell known as Thief, a new faction called Sekiguchi Genetics, and a complete narrative arc delivered through priority contracts.
Looking further ahead, Season 2 is already titled Nightfall and will introduce a dark, high-tension variant of the Dire Marsh map with an increased enemy presence. This follow-up update will also introduce a new runner shell, additional weapons, and the mysterious Cradle system, which aims to give players greater autonomy over their runner shell statistics. By pairing a lower entry price with free ongoing content drops, Bungie is positioning Marathon as a long-term live service to watch in a crowded multiplayer market.
Tags: Marathon, Bungie, Extraction Shooter, Gaming News, PC Gaming
Original article: Eurogamer