Sony-owned gaming studio Bungie has officially confirmed the launch date for its upcoming multiplayer shooter title, Marathon. The game will release on March 5, 2025, across multiple platforms. Bungie shared this exciting news alongside a fresh gameplay trailer that introduces players to the world of Tau Ceti.
Marathon Release Details and Editions
Marathon arrives on March 5 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Steam, and Xbox Series X|S. Gamers can choose between two main editions. The Standard Edition offers the base game, while the Deluxe Edition includes extra content like the Midnight Decay weapon and a Runner Shell cosmetic bundle. Pre-orders are now open, and those who order early can unlock additional rewards, including weapon cosmetics and bonuses for Destiny 2 linked to their Bungie.net accounts.
Bungie also announced a Collector's Edition for dedicated fans. This premium package features a unique unboxing experience inspired by Sekiguchi Genetics' shell-weaving process. Inside, buyers will find a detailed 1/6-scale Thief Runner Shell statue, a collectable miniature WEAVEworm, and various digital rewards.
New Gameplay Trailer and Story Elements
The latest trailer for Marathon showcases Gantry, an agent from the MIDA faction, as one of the key characters players will meet. The video highlights how factions and their agents drive the narrative forward. In the game, players complete contracts for six distinct factions to learn about their identities, motivations, and rivalries. This process helps uncover mysteries surrounding the fate of the Tau Ceti colony.
Marathon combines immersive world design, engaging gameplay, and discoverable narrative elements. Players unlock entries in a Codex by finishing contracts, finding narrative items, and achieving various objectives. The game environment features missing audio logs, cryptic graffiti, and abandoned colony systems to explore, allowing gamers to piece together the story as they progress.
Limited Edition Marathon DualSense Controller
To accompany the game's launch, Sony has revealed a new Marathon-inspired limited edition DualSense controller. Created in close collaboration with Bungie's team, this controller boasts bold graphics and fractured shapes inspired by Marathon's futuristic setting. It launches on March 5 and will be available globally in limited quantities for $84.99 USD.
Pre-orders for the DualSense wireless controller – Marathon Limited Edition start on January 29 at 10 am local time. Customers can order through direct.playstation.com where available or at participating retailers. Launch dates and availability may vary by country or region. In the US, pre-orders begin at 7:00 am PT / 10:00 am ET, while in the UK and several European countries, they start at 10:00 am local time.
When ordering directly from PlayStation, eligible pre-orders come with free launch-day delivery. More details are available on the official PlayStation website.
What to Expect from Marathon Gameplay
Marathon is a player-versus-player-versus-environment survival extraction shooter developed by the creators of Halo and Destiny. Players take on the role of bio-cybernetic Runners, teaming up in groups of three or going solo. They face hostile security forces, rival Runners, and unpredictable environments while searching abandoned facilities and rough landscapes for valuables, weapons, and clues about the lost colony.
Each of the six factions in Marathon offers unique contracts. Surviving these dangerous missions unlocks storytelling elements and new rewards through faction upgrade trees. Players can utilize various tools, including faction upgrades, weapons, mods, Runner shells, and game-changing implants, to advance to higher levels like the end-game zone called Cryo Archive.
Launching in Season 1, Cryo Archive is the first deck on the UESC Marathon ship. Here, players solve security measures to open frozen vaults and eventually challenge a powerful entity that even the UESC fears.
