Bungie's Marathon: Leaked Price Tag & Launch Arsenal – Are We Finally Getting a Clearer Picture (or Just More Smoke)?
AI Gaming News Author · Game Rant ·
A leaker reveals Marathon's supposed price and launch weapons, while Bungie remains tight-lipped about the game after its indefinite delay.
Right, so you know how Bungie's *Marathon* has been… well, a bit of a digital ghost lately? Whispers, rumours, the occasional DMCA takedown notice flying around like a rogue spell gone wrong. It’s been a proper mystery box, hasn't it? But now, it seems a rather curious little leak has popped up, potentially giving us a glimpse into the game's actual launch strategy. And fair dinkum, if this leak is even half-true, it's got some interesting bits that might just turn a few heads.
For ages, Bungie has been pretty tight-lipped about their upcoming extraction shooter. After a string of controversies and a few bumps in the development road – we're talking indefinite delays, some less-than-stellar early playtester feedback, and even a minor art plagiarism kerfuffle (bloody hell, remember that?) – you could say *Marathon* has been more of a marathon *of patience* for us gamers. They were conspicuously absent from Sony's September State of Play, which didn't exactly soothe anxious fans.
However, there have been glimmers of hope. Bungie recently announced another round of closed playtests, running right now (from October 22 to October 28, to be precise). More eyeballs, more feedback, more iteration – that's generally a healthy sign for a game trying to find its footing and iron out the kinks. It feels like the digital dust might be settling, and perhaps, just perhaps, things are turning around.
And then, along comes the news that’s had my digital wizard hat practically vibrating: a reputable leaker has apparently spilled the beans on *Marathon*'s potential price tag and its launch weapon arsenal. According to Aaron McKinley over at Game Rant, citing Destiny 2 and Marathon dataminer Deakstiny, we're talking some pretty specific figures here.
First up, the money shot: the base game for *Marathon* could land at a cool $40. Now, that’s a figure that might raise an eyebrow or two, but it also aligns rather nicely with Bungie’s previous hints about it *not* being a "full-priced" affair. We've seen this model work a treat with other Sony-published live service titles – *Helldivers 2*, for instance, absolutely nailed the "not-quite-AAA-price-tag-but-still-tons-of-fun" vibe at a similar price point. So, a $40 entry fee for what's essentially a spiritual successor to a classic, rebooted as an extraction shooter, could be seen as a savvy move. It manages expectations while still asking for enough to signify a substantial experience. Deakstiny also suggests a deluxe edition for roughly $60 (fair enough, probably some shiny cosmetics or early access) and, naturally, a cosmetic-only season pass for an additional $10. "Cosmetic-only season pass," eh? Always makes you wonder what counts as 'cosmetic' these days, doesn't it? Is that just a fancy hat, or a whole new visual identity for your digital wizard? While Deakstiny was careful to say prices are subject to change – a classic wizard's disclaimer, that – these numbers do fit the broader narrative Bungie has been subtly weaving.
But what's a shooter without a hefty arsenal, eh? This leak suggests a whopping 28 weapons at launch. That's a decent spread, isn't it? According to Deakstiny’s posts, we're looking at four automatic rifles, three light machine guns, six precision rifles, three pistols, two rail guns (ooh, always a favourite), three shotguns, three snipers, and four 'other' guns. That sounds like enough firepower to start a small intergalactic skirmish, doesn't it? Or at least enough to equip every member of your fireteam with something suitably destructive. Variety, as they say, is the spice of the digital battlefield. Offering a solid selection of weapon types from the get-go could really help *Marathon* stand out and cater to different playstyles, especially in a genre where loadout choices can make or break a run.
Now, you might be thinking, "Jeff, mate, it's just a leak, how much weight can we put on this?" Well, here's where it gets interesting. Deakstiny, the digital oracle blessing us with these insights, has a relatively reliable track record. In fact, back in September 2023, they reportedly leaked multiple improvements from a *Marathon* closed playtest that Bungie subsequently issued DMCA takedowns for. Now, if that isn't a digital seal of approval for a leaker's accuracy, I don't know what is. It's like a wizard's spell backfiring but still confirming the wizard's existence, you know? The fact that Bungie went to the trouble of issuing takedowns over Deakstiny's previous revelations lends significant credence to their current claims.
So, if these recent leaks are true – and the track record coupled with Bungie's past statements gives them a fair bit of gravity – it seems like *Marathon* will offer a lot of variety without a particularly hefty price tag at launch. This would make perfect sense. Given *Marathon*'s somewhat turbulent development cycle and the desire to make a good impression after all those delays and controversies, coming out with a reasonable price and a solid content offering feels like a very deliberate attempt to win back player confidence. It's like showing up to a wizard duel with a new, much shinier staff after your old one accidentally exploded – you want to make a statement.
Ultimately, it's still all 'rumour' for now, mate, and as Deakstiny wisely noted, prices (and probably weapon lists) are subject to change. But this leak, coupled with the ongoing playtests, paints a picture of a game that's actively trying to turn the tide after a bit of a bumpy ride. Will *Marathon* stick the landing and prove itself worthy of the legacy it carries? Only time, and a whole lot more playtesting, will tell. But for forty quid and 28 guns, I reckon it's certainly worth keeping an eye on as we wait for Bungie to officially lift the veil. Hopefully, their next reveal isn't another rogue spell, eh?
Original article: Game Rant