Marathon is a paid sci-fi extraction shooter from Bungie, released on March 5, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. You play a Runner who drops onto the lost colony of Tau Ceti IV, alone or in a crew of up to three, grabs loot and must extract alive to keep it. Surviving with your haul is the win.
What is Marathon?
Marathon is a first-person PvPvE extraction shooter made and published by Bungie, the studio behind Halo and Destiny. It is a one-time purchase rather than free-to-play, with a Standard Edition listed at $39.99 on Steam (sales do happen). It runs on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam, with cross-platform multiplayer.
You play as a Runner, a mind loaded into a synthetic body called a shell. Each Runner shell has its own abilities, and you build on it with weapons, mods, implants and core upgrades. There is also a Rook shell, a scavenger option for players who want to slip into a zone alone. If you are new to the genre, our page on every game explained covers how extraction shooters differ from battle royales.
| Fact | Marathon (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Developer and publisher | Bungie |
| Release date | March 5, 2026 |
| Platforms | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam), with crossplay |
| Price model | Paid game, Standard Edition $39.99 list price |
| Genre | PvPvE extraction shooter |
| Crew size | Solo, duo or trio |
| Current content | Nightfall Refresh (from October 6, 2026); Symbiosis update planned for December 8, 2026 |
Bungie ran two three-month seasons after launch. Instead of starting Season 3 in September, it moved the next big update, called Symbiosis, to December 8, 2026. In the meantime the October 6 Nightfall Refresh reset progression and the economy for everyone and added a free NuCaloric Reward Pass that does not expire.
What is the objective of Marathon?
Over the long run, your goal is to grow stronger: earn better gear, level up with the in-game factions, finish contracts and eventually take on the Cryo Archive, the endgame zone aboard the Marathon ship with raid-style puzzles and vaults.
Inside a single run the goal is simpler. You drop into a zone such as Perimeter, Dire Marsh or Outpost, scavenge valuables, complete any contract you took, deal with UESC security forces and rival crews, then reach an exfil point and leave. Anything you carry out goes into your stash for the next run. If you die before you extract, you lose the gear you brought in and the loot you picked up.
How do you win a match in Marathon?
There is no scoreboard win in Marathon. A run is a success when you extract alive, and a better success when you leave with more value than you brought. Killing other crews is optional; it only matters if it helps you survive or take their loot. Here is how the main queues work as of October 2026:
| Mode | Team size | How you win |
|---|---|---|
| Extraction (Perimeter, Dire Marsh, Night Marsh, Outpost) | Solo, duo or trio | Loot, finish your goals and extract alive with your haul |
| Sponsored Kit Extraction (weekend rotation) | Solo, duo or trio | Same goal, but everyone drops in with a provided kit instead of their own gear |
| Cryo Archive | Crew | Solve the security puzzles, open vaults and extract with the rewards; it opens weekly |
| Sponsored Survival (rotating, PvE-focused) | Squad of three, plus solo Rooks | Survive the UESC forces and extract; Rooks may help or ignore the squad |
Bungie also brings back short experimental queues, such as the Vault Breaker PvE test inside the Cryo Archive. These come and go, so check the in-game playlist before you plan around one.
How does ranked or progression work?
Marathon had a ranked mode in Season 1, but Bungie has said it is not returning with the October refresh while the team rethinks it, and no return date has been given. Day-to-day progression comes from faction levels and upgrades, contracts, your stash of gear and the Reward Pass. Because the October 6 refresh wiped progression, everyone is climbing from the same starting line right now. For more Marathon articles as we publish them, browse our Marathon guides hub.
Beginner tips to win more
- Bring cheap gear while you learn a zone. Losing a light kit hurts far less than losing your best weapons.
- Decide on an exfil point before you drop and know a backup one in case another crew is camping it.
- Pick one faction contract per run so your route has a clear purpose instead of wandering for loot.
- Play the Sponsored Kit weekends. Everyone has similar gear, so they are a fair place to practise fights.
- Listen before you loot. Footsteps, gunfire and doors tell you where other crews are.
- Leave when your bag is worth it. Greed is the most common reason new Runners lose a good haul.
- Stick close to your crew and revive fast; a trio that moves together wins most fights.
How can Boosting Games help with Marathon?
We offer fixed-price Marathon help, listed in full on the Marathon services collection. The prices below are starting prices as of October 2026, and the exact price for the option you choose shows before checkout.
| Service | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Marathon Extraction Run Carry | Pros run extractions with you to get you out alive | From $19 |
| Marathon Cryo Archive Carry | A guided run through the Cryo Archive endgame zone | From $9 |
| Marathon Faction Contract Session | A session focused on finishing your faction contracts | From $13 |
| Marathon Leveling Session | A session spent levelling your progression | From $25 |
| Marathon Coaching and VOD Review | Live coaching or a review of your recorded runs | From $15 |
Honest risk note: Bungie's terms do not allow account sharing, and paid boosting can break platform rules too. Piloted orders, where a booster logs into your account, carry the most risk. Carries where you play alongside a pro carry less, and coaching carries none. Read our account safety notice before ordering. We never sell accounts, in-game currency, items, cheats or mods.
Get help with Marathon
Choose a service on the Marathon boosting page, see the exact price before you pay, and follow progress on your private order page. Our how it works page explains each step.
See Marathon servicesAsk Boost Up AIRelated reading: our beginner guides What Is Escape from Tarkov and how do you win and What Is ARC Raiders and how do you win, plus the Marathon guides hub. Unsure which service fits? Ask Boost Up AI.
Marathon FAQ
Is Marathon free to play?
No. Marathon is a paid game from Bungie. The Standard Edition lists at $39.99 on Steam, with a pricier Deluxe Edition, and both are discounted from time to time. Bungie has run free trial periods, but you need to buy the game to keep playing. The NuCaloric Reward Pass added in the October 2026 refresh is free for everyone who owns the game, so there is no extra pass to buy to earn those rewards.
What platforms is Marathon on?
Marathon is on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Steam. It supports cross-platform multiplayer, so you can be matched with or against players on other systems. It launched on all three on March 5, 2026. As of October 2026 there is no mobile or last-generation console version, so you need current hardware or a gaming PC to play.
Can you play Marathon solo?
Yes. You can queue alone, in a duo or in a full crew of three. Playing solo is harder because a trio can trade shots and revive each other, but solo players can lean on stealth, pick quieter routes and extract early. The Rook shell is built around slipping into a zone alone to scavenge, and Rooks can also enter some PvE-focused queues such as Sponsored Survival.
What happens if you die in Marathon?
If you die before you extract, you lose the gear you brought in and anything you picked up during that run. That loss is what makes extraction games tense. Your stash at home is safe, so a good habit is to take cheaper gear while you learn a zone. Sponsored Kit queues are a lower-risk way to practise, because everyone drops in with a provided kit instead of their own loadout.
Does Marathon have ranked?
Marathon launched a ranked mode in Season 1, but as of October 2026 it is switched off. Bungie said ranked would not return with the October Nightfall Refresh while it reworks the mode, and it has not announced a return date. Until then, progression comes from faction levels, contracts, the Reward Pass and the gear you build up in your stash.
What is the Cryo Archive in Marathon?
The Cryo Archive is Marathon's endgame zone aboard the Marathon ship. It has raid-style security puzzles and sealed vaults guarded by tough enemies, and rival crews can be in there too. After the October 2026 refresh it opens weekly from Thursday through Sunday. It is a step up from the planet zones, so most players bring a well-built crew and solid gear before trying it.
New directions: Marathon Cryo Archive Guide: Unlock, Route and Loot (2026) and all raid and dungeon guides.
Sources: Steam: Marathon store page, Bungie: official Marathon site, GameRiv: October Nightfall Refresh details, GameRiv: Symbiosis moved to December, Shacknews: Marathon roadmap, Dexerto: release date and price.