Marathon Sets March 2026 Launch Window and $40 Price Point as Bungie Unveils New Gameplay

Bungie’s delayed extraction shooter revival, Marathon, has re-emerged with an early 2026 launch window and a $39.99 price point.

The studio behind Halo and Destiny announced narrowed release plans for its next game as part of a new “Vision of Marathon” ViDoc upload to its YouTube channel today. It puts a lens up to its next project with a little less than 23 minutes of footage, showcasing the PvPvE FPS’s world and gameplay while doing its best to answer two major questions: How much will Marathon cost, and when is it coming out?

Bungie says its “target pricing” is currently $39.99, a price point that puts it on par with the recently released (and massively successful) extraction shooter from Embark Studios, Arc Raiders. Additional details on the Marathon package are hazy for now, with the PlayStation studio only telling buyers to expect access to all gameplay updates – including maps, Runner shells, events, and more – “as the year progresses.”

Bungie adds that reward passes will not expire, with players able to purchase past passes and earn their rewards at any time. Those worried about potential pay-to-win mechanics have been assured that they have nothing to fear, too.

“Finally, and most importantly, we believe in preserving competitive integrity in Marathon, so survival will never come down to how much money you spend,” the studio said in a blog post today.

“We’ll share more about our plans for seasonal content, a roadmap, and details about when you’ll be able to try the game as we get closer to launch.”

Bungie had previously set a Marathon release date of September 23, 2025, before what it called “strong and clear” feedback from players related to an April alpha test resulted in an indefinite delay. At the time, Sony laid out a plan to see the new extraction shooter launch before March 2026, with Bungie now doubling down on that plan today with a firmer March 2026 release window for PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S. The exact release date remains a mystery for now.

The Marathon ViDoc also includes loads of fresh gameplay showing how its dark sci-fi world will have players fighting tooth and nail to survive. Bungie wants Runners to feel the pressure when scavenging Tau Ceti IV, so it’s made changes to immerse players with realistic weather and updated environmental storytelling in a world it’s calling “dark, gritty, and grounded.” Other recent additions include proximity chat, a solo queue option, a Rook shell with a limited loadout, and increased visual fidelity and updated UI.

As Bungie shows off its progress, the video also serves as a much-needed side-by-side for players to see what has changed since feedback resulted in that hefty delay earlier this year. The studio says more updates will arrive in the coming months, telling players to expect the next update in January.

While we wait for that elusive Marathon release date, you can read about why Sony was willing to admit its live-service strategy wasn’t panning out as it had hoped. You can also learn about the fiasco revolving around uncredited artwork, which was recently resolved.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).