Bungie used today's State of Play to announce that Marathon is free-to-play through June 9, with a 30% discount available if you want to keep it permanently. The offer runs until June 16, timed directly to the launch of Season 2.
Season 2 launches into a tough crowd
The timing here is deliberate. Marathon launched back in March 2026 and has struggled to build a consistent playerbase since then. A free week and a discount are classic live-service moves to inject new players into a game that needs the numbers. Season 2 is the reset button Bungie is hoping lands.
Here's the thing, though: the State of Play chat wasn't exactly buzzing with excitement about Marathon. Viewers spent a significant portion of the broadcast demanding Destiny 3, a reaction that's become increasingly common since Bungie confirmed it was ending new content updates for Destiny 2 with no sequel announced or in active development. Reports suggest the studio is bracing for layoffs as resources shift toward Marathon and other unannounced projects.
Marathon is free-to-play until June 9. The 30% discount on a permanent purchase runs through June 16.
Marathon Season 2 launch screen
The Destiny problem isn't going away
There's a real tension Bungie has to navigate right now. A vocal portion of its audience sees Marathon not as an exciting new direction, but as the reason Destiny's future is on hold. That framing isn't entirely fair, but it's the perception the studio is working against every time Marathon appears in a major showcase.
A Destiny 3 petition has reportedly collected more signatures than Marathon has active players. That's a brutal data point for a game that's less than three months old and still trying to find its footing as an extraction shooter in a crowded field.
What the discount actually means for players
If you've been curious about Marathon but weren't ready to commit, the free week is a genuine opportunity to try it without any risk. The 30% discount through June 16 gives you a window to buy in at a reduced price if Season 2 hooks you.
Season 2 brings a new trailer and fresh content to the extraction shooter, though Bungie hasn't detailed every addition publicly beyond what was shown at State of Play. Whether the new season addresses the game's player retention issues is the real question, and that answer will take a few weeks to emerge.
For players who want to dig deeper into Marathon's mechanics before jumping in, check out our gaming guides for tips on extraction shooter fundamentals. If you're weighing Marathon against other recent releases, our game reviews cover the broader field.
Season 2 is live now. The free access window closes June 9, and the discount expires June 16.
