Following numerous delays, Bungie’s Marathon is almost here, releasing on PC (via Steam), PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on March 5 after a successful “Server Slam” beta test over the weekend. It’s Bungie’s first new game since it released Destiny 2 in 2018.
A PvP-focused extraction shooter set on the mysterious planet of Tau Ceti IV, Marathon sees players inhabit the bodies of Runners, cybernetic mercenaries who have been designed to survive the planet’s harsh environments, exploring the lost colony that once inhabited Tau Ceti’s surface.
In our Marathon review-in-progress, we wrote: “The Server Slam alone doesn’t paint a full picture, but working my way to character rank 30 was a really promising glimpse at the first stretch of progression in what looks to be quite an intense climb to the endgame.
“I’ll be diving deep into every aspect of Marathon at its full launch and be back with a final review once I’ve seen what the later half of that experience feels like – some of which is being held behind planned updates in a couple of weeks. But at least right now, I’m feeling extremely good about the chances of this becoming my next obsession.”
Bungie recently revealed what to expect from Marathon at launch and confirmed plans for seasonal wipes, which means all players lose their gear every few months, bringing a “clean slate for the whole community” each session. Players will keep their achievements, cosmetics, titles, and other rewards, as well as their Codex progression.
Marathon release times
Depending on where you are in the world, Marathon is set to go live on all platforms at the following times:
Thursday, March 5, 2026:
PST (San Francisco):
CST (Austin, Mexico City):
EST (New York):
GMT (London):
CET (Paris):
Friday, March 6, 2026
JST (Tokyo):
CST (Beijing):
AEST (Sydney):
NZST (Wellington):
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, as well as a critic, columnist, and consultant with 15+ years experience working with some of the world’s biggest gaming sites and publications. She’s also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually High Chaos. Find her at BlueSky.
