Bungie's Big Bet
Marathon launched on March 5, 2026 on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. It's Bungie's first new franchise since Destiny — and the first Marathon game since 1996. After years of delays and controversy, it's finally here.
The launch has been... complicated. Here's everything you need to know.
What Is Marathon?
Marathon is a first-person PvPvE extraction shooter set on the abandoned colony of Tau Ceti IV in the year 2893. You play as a bio-cybernetic Runner, scavenging the planet's surface for loot while surviving both AI enemies and rival player teams.
The core loop: load in, explore zones, collect gear, and extract alive. If you die, you lose everything you brought with you. Succeed, and you return to your vault with new weapons, armor, and upgrades to build stronger runs.
You can play solo, in duos, or in trios. The game features full cross-play and cross-save across all platforms.
The Good
The gunplay is exceptional. This is Bungie — the studio behind Halo and Destiny — and it shows. Weapons feel distinct, responsive, and satisfying to use. Combat is fast and skill-based.
The world is fascinating. The sci-fi setting of Tau Ceti IV is genuinely mysterious and atmospheric. The lore, delivered through environmental storytelling and a Codex system, rewards exploration.
The build variety is deep. Six Runner shells offer different playstyle foundations. Combine weapons, armor implants, and core upgrades to create builds that feel genuinely personal.
Cross-play works smoothly. Playing with friends across PC, PS5, and Xbox with shared progression is seamless.
The Controversy
Marathon launched to significant community criticism on two fronts:
Microtransactions: Runner skins cost 1,120 Lux in the store, but the $10 bundle only gives 1,100 Lux — leaving players 20 Lux short. To complete a single skin purchase, players had to buy an additional $5 bundle, making one skin effectively cost $15. Bungie has acknowledged this and confirmed changes are coming.
Difficulty curve: Many players found early runs brutally punishing. Running out of ammo against aggressive AI enemies frustrated players before they could learn the game's systems. Bungie's first patch (March 9-15) directly addresses this with ammo and supply adjustments.
Mandatory seasonal wipes: Every three months, all loot and progress resets. This is controversial — some players love the fresh-start energy, others hate losing their gear.
Current State (March 10, 2026)
The first patch is rolling out this week addressing difficulty and ammo supply. The Lux bundle fix arrives separately soon. Bungie has framed this as "an ongoing conversation" rather than a one-time fix.
For comparison, Slay the Spire 2 — which launched the same week — peaked at 165,000-275,000 concurrent players and dominated the Steam charts, while Marathon hit 88,000 peak players. The comparison has fueled debate about Marathon's long-term potential.
Should It Go On Your Backlog?
Marathon is a multiplayer-only, ongoing live service game. It doesn't belong in a traditional backlog — you either commit to it as your current multiplayer game, or you skip it for now.
Play Marathon now if:
- You loved Destiny's gunplay and want something new
- You enjoy extraction shooters like ARC Raiders
- You have friends to play with regularly
- You can stomach some launch roughness knowing patches are coming
- You primarily play single-player games
- You have limited gaming time per week
- You want to wait for the monetization issues to be fully resolved
The Backlog Coach Take
Marathon is not a backlog game — it's a lifestyle game that rewards consistent time investment. If that's what you're looking for right now, jump in after the March 9-15 patch. If you're trying to clear your single-player backlog, skip it for now and revisit in Season 2 when the game matures.
Already overwhelmed by your Steam library? Connect to Backlog Coach and we'll help you figure out which games actually deserve your limited time.