Marathon is set to launch as a premium title, not a free-to-play game. Dive in to discover more about Marathon's pricing strategy and the rationale behind the exclusion of proximity chat.

Marathon Development Updates

Marathon Will Not Be Free-To-Play

Marathon's director has officially confirmed that the game will not follow a free-to-play model but will instead be a premium title. During a live gameplay showcase on April 13, Bungie, the developers behind Marathon, unveiled the game's release date and presented a new gameplay trailer. While the exact price remains undisclosed, the gaming community is eager to learn more about its monetization strategy.

In an April 14 episode of the Friends Per Second podcast, Marathon Director Joe Ziegler clarified the game's pricing model, stating, "We’re hoping that what we’re showing is exciting enough that someone is going to take the leap with us, but we are also committed to delivering on seasons past this that will continuously offer to evolve the game without an increase to the box price."

Ziegler expressed confidence in the game's current state and the team's dedication to its ongoing development. He noted, "Everyone’s got their own definition of what is the right price."

Speculation on Marathon's price range has been rampant on social media, with fans sharing various predictions. However, Bungie took to Twitter (X) on April 13 to clarify that Marathon will not be a full-priced title but a premium one, promising to reveal more pricing details this summer.

Marathon Will Not Have Proximity Chat

Proximity chat, a feature that allows players to communicate based on their in-game proximity, has become a staple in many multiplayer games, enhancing the interactive and immersive experience. However, it also brings the challenge of managing potential toxicity and negative interactions among players.

Bungie has decided to omit proximity chat from Marathon to prioritize creating a safe environment for its players. In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Ziegler explained, "When it comes to prox chat, I don't think we're against the experience of it, to be fair. I think the challenge is how to make sure we're creating a safe environment for players inside of that space."

Ziegler emphasized the team's commitment to player safety and acknowledged the ongoing industry-wide challenge of managing toxicity in proximity chat. While this decision removes the opportunity for strategic interactions with opposing teams in this extraction shooter, Bungie remains open to revisiting the feature if a viable solution emerges. Ziegler added, "I think that's where we stand right now. Like, if it was magical and we could somehow come up with that solution, I think we totally would do it. But right now, it is a challenge that many companies are trying to figure out."

Marathon is slated for release on September 23, 2025, across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned to our site for the latest updates on the game!