Marathon
News, coverage and analysis tracking Marathon across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Marathon Season 2 has begun, check out the patch notes
Marathon Season 2: Nightfall is now live, introducing a new shell, map, enemies, and weapons, along with significant updates to gameplay mechanics, item economy, and user interface. The patch notes detail extensive changes to combat, weapons, implants, and equipment, alongside numerous bug fixes and stability improvements, including support for PC frame generation technologies like DLSS and FSR.
Marathon Season 2 – Night Marsh Spotlight
Marathon's second season launches June 2, introducing the new nighttime map 'Night Marsh' with enhanced dangers, new enemies, and fresh loot. Players can experience these updates during the Open Play Week from June 2-9, with progress carrying over. The game is available on Xbox Series X|S.
Marathon season 2 kicks off with a "PvP-lite" mode that sounds more like a sidestep for those after PvE
Marathon's second season has launched with a gear wipe and a free-to-play week, introducing a new "PvP-lite" mode called Sponsored Survival. This mode features players on a map with AI enemies, with other players backfilling later in the match. Bungie also plans to test a full PvE mode later in the season.
Marathon unveils a ‘PvP-lite’ experimental mode and free play week promo to kick off Season 2
Marathon is launching its spooky-themed Season 2 with a free play week from June 2nd to June 9th, allowing new players to experience the Night Marsh map and the Sentinel character. The season also introduces Sponsored Survival, a temporary 'PvP-lite' mode where players first face PvE challenges before competing to exfil.
PlayStation first-party game sales show a decline since 2020
Sony's first-party PlayStation game sales have seen a consistent decline since 2020, dropping from 58.4 million units in FY2020 to 28.9 million in FY2024, with a slight increase to 32.1 million in FY2025. This trend coincides with the launch of the PlayStation 5 and the performance of titles like The Last of Us Part II and Ghost of Tsushima, while more recent releases like Astro Bot and Concord have had mixed results. Hardware sales for the PlayStation 5 have also decreased year-on-year.
Marathon's experimental new mode lets you scavenge alone, but only for a little while
Bungie has launched a new experimental mode for Marathon called Sponsored Survival as part of its Season 2 update. This mode allows a single player to scavenge and fight bots in a low-risk environment for 18 minutes before facing other players or new enemy types. The developer is also testing a second PvE mode and considering a purely PvP-focused mode in the future.
Bungie experiments by adding casual PvP-lite mode to Marathon
Bungie is introducing a new experimental mode called Sponsored Survival to Marathon, which reduces the emphasis on player versus player combat for a more relaxed experience. This mode will be available during the free-to-access Open Play week from June 2 to June 9. Bungie is testing this mode to cater to different playstyles and gather feedback for potential future additions to the live service shooter.
Marathon Season 2 takes Bungie's brutal new shooter one step closer to PvE with a "Sponsored Survival" mode that's "more PVP-lite" and a "low-risk way to play"
Bungie has detailed a new "Sponsored Survival" mode for its upcoming shooter Marathon, which blends Player vs. Environment (PvE) elements with a "PVP-lite" approach. This experimental mode aims to offer a lower-risk way to play, with a full PvE mode planned for later in Season 2.
Marathon's first 'PvP-lite' experimental mode sounds like a delightfully terrifying alternative
Bungie is experimenting with a new 'PvP-lite' mode for Marathon called Sponsored Survival, which will be available during the first week of its second season. This mode initially allows a single squad to explore a map without player threats, focusing on PvE combat against bots and new enemies. After a certain period, 'Rooks' (late-joining players) will be introduced, escalating the potential for player conflict before a single exfiltration point opens at the end of the match.
Marathon adds PvE-focused mode tomorrow alongside free-to-play season 2 launch
Bungie's upcoming shooter Marathon will launch its second season tomorrow, introducing a new PvE-focused mode. This update will also make the game free-to-play.
Marathon Season 2 release countdown: Exact date and time
The release date for Marathon Season 2 is being counted down, with an exact date and time to be announced. The article indicates an imminent launch for the new season of the game.
PS5 Owners Can Play 2026 Sony First-Party Game for Free
Sony is offering a limited-time free play week for Bungie's multiplayer shooter Marathon on PlayStation 5 from June 2 to June 9. No PlayStation Plus subscription is required to participate in this "Open Play Week," and all progress will carry over to Marathon Season 2. This initiative aims to boost player engagement for the recently released title.
Respawn Monday #001: Abiotic Factor, Marathon Runs, and the Outward 2 Beta — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
The author discusses recent gaming experiences, including the survival game Abiotic Factor on PC Game Pass, its retro visuals, and engaging crafting mechanics. They also detail playing the extraction shooter Marathon with new friends, preparing for Season 2's wipe, and covering the Outward 2 beta, noting its deliberate difficulty and lack of handholding.
Marathon’s Open Play Week Includes Sponsored Survival, the New Experimental PvE Mode
Bungie is hosting an Open Play Week for Marathon from June 2nd to 9th, introducing an experimental PvE mode called Sponsored Survival. This mode takes place on the new Night Marsh map and features unique spawn mechanics for Runners and Rooks. The Open Play Week coincides with the launch of Marathon Season 2: NIGHTFALL on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Bungie spills the beans on combat tuning for Marathon Season 2, and it's bad news for shotgun lovers and thermal…
Bungie has detailed combat changes for Marathon's upcoming Season 2, focusing on rebalancing weapons and introducing new mechanics. Shotguns will not receive further nerfs, but thermal scopes will be removed from sniper rifles. New weapons like the KKV-9SD SMG and D54 battle pistol, along with new throwables, will also be added to the extraction shooter.
Valve veteran worries for Bungie's future following Destiny 2's final update: "I don't think Sony…
Valve veteran Chet Faliszek expressed concern over Bungie's future following the announcement that Destiny 2's final update will be released on June 9, with no Destiny 3 currently in development. He believes Sony may have lost interest in Bungie's live-service ambitions after Marathon's underperformance, leaving the studio in a precarious position with limited viable paths forward.
Something for the Weekend – 30/05/26
Summer Games Fest is approaching with numerous game announcements, updates, and trailers expected. This week's news includes the announcement of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 for Nintendo Switch, a reboot for Dragon Quest XII, and delays for Fable and Destruction AllStars. Several games received reviews, including a metatextual RPG and a spy action thriller, while previews covered F1 25: 2026 Season Pack and Foxy Dumplings.
Former Destiny 2 boss won't say "Destiny 1 remaster" out loud, but suggests it might not be a good idea: "Studios can only afford so many bets"
Former Destiny 2 lead Mark Noseworthy discussed the business considerations of game remasters, suggesting a Destiny 1 remaster might not be a wise investment for Bungie. He highlighted the high costs, opportunity costs, and market demand as key factors, implying that studios have limited resources for such projects.
Marathon free week start date and available content
Bungie is offering a free week for its extraction shooter Marathon from June 2 to June 9, allowing players to experience the full game, including new Season 2 content. The free trial will be available on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X, with progress carrying over if players purchase the game. Certain endgame content like the Cryo Archive map and ranked mode will remain unavailable during this period.
Marathon Free Play Week: Play for Free June 2–9 During Season 2 — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Bungie is offering a free play week for its extraction shooter Marathon from June 2 to June 9 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, coinciding with the launch of Season 2. This event includes a seasonal wipe, new content like a night version of the Dire Marsh map, new weapons, and a Sentinel Shell. The free period aims to revitalize the player base and allow newcomers to experience the game before deciding to purchase it.
