Key Highlights:
- A recent, unintended leak from Xbox seems to suggest that Marathon will release in March 2026.
- The game will cost $40 and have a pre order/deluxe edition.
- There’s a heavy amount of skepticism associated with its release.
Bungie’s upcoming live service first person extraction shooter, Marathon, underwent some drastic, but quiet changes since its previous delay. The game has seemingly changed for the better, and current beta playtest feedback seems to be mostly positive.
Now, a recent leak seems to be pointing toward the eventual and final release date of the game, which hints toward early March 2026. Here’s what we know.
Is Marathon Releasing in March 2026? Here’s What We Know
As per multiple sources in a now removed Reddit thread, players have spotted a new trailer for Marathon on the game’s Xbox Community page. Players who have added this trailer to their watchlist also received unintended reveals for both the release date and content of a Deluxe Edition.
The date has been mentioned to be on March 5, 2026 which is quite near. Bungie has likely finished adding the finishing touches to the game, and are ready to ship it to the masses.
Pre Order Skin and Pricing Revealed
As was seen in the now taken down video, the Marathon trailer showcases (in addition to its release date) the presence of a pre order bundle, titled the ‘Midnight Decay’, which consists of two weapon skins.
The voiceover work in the trailer also appears to be familiar, and is likely done by Ben Starr here. He’s best known for his breakthrough role as Clive Rosfield in the often divisive Final Fantasy XVI.
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As far as pricing is concerned, the game is expected to retail for $40, and will not be free to play. Instead, players will have to pay an upfront fee to be able to access lobbies (and the game itself), with the promise of a complete package.
In other words, the game is expected to be a one time purchase, atleast as far as the standard grind, online missions and unlockables go. Cosmetics are likely to be paywalled though, but that’s a reasonable compromise.
This Is Going To Be A Difficult Battle for Bungie
To say that Marathon has been a controversial title would be an understatement. The first person shooter was initially conceived as a spin off the original Marathon, which was released back in 1994 for macOS.
The macOS version went onto receive a trilogy, which was praised for its gameplay, visuals and storytelling. Bungie has since gone back to the drawing board, and reimagined Marathon as a multiplayer extraction shooter (which now does not have a macOS version).
Going back to the controversy, it all began when an independent artist by the name of Fern ‘Antireal’ Hook brought forward allegations of Bungie plagiarizing from their previous work, which was proven to be true.
This further sank the company’s reputation amongst fans and newcomers alike, and while this situation has been resolved, in the end it highlighted a streak of player distrust and disappointment.
To make matters worse, the initial few betas were met with heavy skepticism and mixed responses, with many seeing it as a weaker entry. Combine this with the fact that Bungie has been slowly ignoring Destiny 2, arguably one of its most popular games, and it makes for a really bad impression, and most players are understandably upset.
As such, Marathon might be a tough sell, especially at that $40 price point. Some of these concerns are valid, and charging an entry fee upfront might be enough to deter potential players.
