Bungie’s Marathon is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about PvPvE shooters of 2025 — and thanks to insider leaks and recent reveals, we’ve got a ton of juicy info. Here’s a full breakdown of everything you need to know before jumping into the chaos. 🎮💥
💰 Is Marathon Free-to-Play?
Nope — Marathon won’t be free-to-play. While many assumed it would follow in Destiny 2’s footsteps, it’s now confirmed to be a paid title. Rumors suggest a price tag anywhere between $40 and $70, with $70 being the likely full price for the standard edition at launch.
🌍 Launch Maps & Game Modes
The game will launch with three maps, with a fourth coming post-launch. Each map offers a dynamic, loot-rich environment with PvPvE mechanics baked into the core gameplay.
- PvPvE balance: There’s a 60% chance you’ll encounter other players during a match.
- No solo matchmaking at launch: You can play solo, but expect a challenge. The game is built for squads.
Contracts in-game allow you to avoid PvP if desired, focusing more on objective-driven tasks.
🧍♂️ Characters, Abilities & Loadouts
There are six runner classes planned, but four will be playable in the upcoming alpha:
- Thief: Uses a grappling hook to steal loot 💨
- Medic: Recently redesigned based on community feedback — also featured in the cinematic trailer 🎬
All characters share a base playstyle, but their loadouts, supers, and abilities differentiate them:
- Each runner has:
- A super
- A main power
- An additional utility
- Blackbeard can mimic Void’s invisibility — yes, cross-class tricks are in!
Mods and loot are tied to each character, offering deep build diversity.
🔫 Combat, PvE, and Loot Systems
The game features:
- 20+ weapons at launch, including grenades and tactical gear
- High-value PvE targets inside red domes — risky but rewarding
- Gold loot is rare and changes weapons or abilities dramatically 🟡
Loot isn’t just stat upgrades. It can completely reshape your playstyle, forcing you to adapt in real time.
🔧 Build Crafting & Weapon Mods
Marathon offers a robust build crafting system:
- Character mods and weapon upgrades
- Attachments change how guns function
- Gold mods alter ability behavior 🔥
- Loot zones spawn strategically, allowing for tactical planning
- Modding affects not just power, but utility and role versatility
🗺️ Map Design & Exploration
Each map is:
- Loot-rich, with faction-specific zones
- Full of resources that increase faction reputation
- Built with exploration, secrets, and lore in mind
Like Destiny’s hidden stories and ARG elements, Marathon’s maps feature:
- Seasonal updates with new secrets
- Optimized looting routes for pro players
- Easter eggs and hidden story elements for the lore hunters 🧩
🎨 Customization & Cosmetics
Character cosmetics are in — and here’s how you can unlock them:
- Earned through faction progression
- Gained from seasonal content
- Unlocked by solving map secrets (ARG fans, this one’s for you)
While monetization hasn’t been confirmed, cosmetic purchases are likely in the future. Think Destiny-style flair but earned (or bought).
End-of-season showcases will let players flex their rare cosmetics and accomplishments.
🏛️ Factions, Lore & Narrative
There will be six factions, with three in the alpha:
- Factions drive the seasonal, player-driven narrative
- They work like Destiny 1 factions with contracts and alternate goals
- Secrets on maps reveal hidden lore
- Artifacts (reworked from older versions) now serve a new gameplay purpose
🔄 Core Gameplay Loop & Season Structure
Marathon emphasizes emergent storytelling over linear missions. Key features include:
- Risk vs. reward gameplay — extract or lose it all
- Permadeath during runs: die, and your loot’s gone
- Squad-based matchmaking (no solo queue at launch, but improvements may come)
- Season resets bring new lore, challenges, and rewards
Each run is a story. Whether you’re stealing high-tier loot or making a desperate last-second extraction, your actions shape your journey.
🧠 TL;DR – Key Marathon Features at a Glance
✅ PvPvE extraction shooter
✅ Squad-based, no solo matchmaking at launch
✅ 3 maps at launch, more coming
✅ 6 total characters, 4 in alpha
✅ 20+ weapons & deep modding system
✅ Seasonal narrative & faction progression
✅ Hardcore permadeath risk/reward loop
✅ High replayability with lore-rich maps and ARG content
