Bungie Pulls Out All the Stops for Marathon Season 2 With a Free-to-Play Week
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Bungie is launching a free-to-play week alongside Marathon Season 2 to help boost player numbers following a challenging first three months.
Bungie is gearing up for a crucial turning point as Marathon approaches its Season 2 launch. Following a challenging first three months defined by a steep learning curve, a fragmented player base, and ongoing friction with the Destiny 2 community, the studio is trying a bold new strategy. According to reporting by Ford James at Polygon, Season 2 is set to kick off alongside a limited time open play week, making the extraction shooter entirely free to play for seven days to attract new runners.
While the core gameplay loop has earned praise for its brilliant mechanics, the game has undeniably struggled with player retention due to punishing mechanics and rough onboarding. By opening the doors to everyone, Bungie has a prime opportunity to win over fence-sitters who were previously hesitant to buy in. The update is projected to drop around 1 p.m. EDT on June 2, though players should keep a close eye on official server status pages for potential live-service deployment hiccups.
Season 2 also brings the dreaded seasonal inventory wipe, resetting all accumulated gear so everyone starts on an even playing field. For a high stakes extraction shooter, wiping progress is a major reset that tests player dedication, but the fresh slate comes paired with new content drops detailed on the official Bungie blog. Whether this free trial period can successfully revitalize the community and build lasting momentum remains to be seen, but it gives curious players a risk-free chance to drop onto the map.
Tags: Marathon, Bungie, Extraction Shooter, PC Gaming, Console Gaming
Original article: Polygon