A world of danger and opportunity awaits you on Tau Ceti IV. Starting March 5, Marathon will be available on PlayStation 5 and other platforms. The team here at Bungie has been working hard to bring that world to life, and we’re thrilled that players across the globe will soon be able to immerse themselves in the dark sci-fi adventure of our PvPvE survival extraction shooter.
Launching the game is just the first step in a long journey together with our players. Marathon’s living universe will continue to evolve across seasons, powered by your feedback and your impact on Tau Ceti as you continue to peel back its many mysteries. We’ve got a ton of exciting stuff cooking for you and wanted to share some of that with you here.
First thing to know: Marathon’s seasonal updates will be available to everyone. No expansions or DLC required.
Each season you’ll be challenged to discover, adapt, and master new skills and, at the start of each season, everyone will start fresh, with nothing in their vault. Seasonal resets mean that the game stays dangerous, loot feels meaningful, and there’s always an opportunity to get back into the game or bring a friend along without feeling behind the curve.
As you progress throughout the season–completing contracts and collecting faction upgrades– you’ll be granted access to stronger base stats and to better gear in the Armory. Your power floor will rise over time, and recovering from a loss will be easier, as will crafting your ideal build.
You’ll carry over things that express your identity from season to season. The titles you’ve unlocked, the Codex progression you’ve earned, as well as the cosmetics you’ve either purchased or earned will not be affected by seasonal resets.
Head over to our latest blog on Bungie’s Marathon web site to learn more about seasons. In the meantime, let’s take a look at some of the highlights coming to Marathon at launch and beyond.
At launch, Marathon will include all six launch Runner shells, access to the Rook frame, aka scavenger mode, six factions, 28 weapons (plus mods, implants, cores), as well as earnable cosmetics, achievements, and storytelling through the Codex. You’ll experience all of this in three zones: Perimeter, Dire Marsh, and Outpost.
Season 1 will find players touching down planetside as the Tau Ceti gold rush begins. As a Runner, you are caught in the heated start of a proxy war between rival factions, doing your best to stay alive and even thrive. In addition to the new Ranked competitive mode, this Season will also introduce the new Cryo Archive map, both arriving early in Season 1.
Cryo Archive
Cryo Archive is Marathon’s first end-game zone aboard the derelict UESC Marathon ship. Characterized by close-quarters combat and raid-like puzzle solving, Cryo Archive finds crews of Runners clashing in the frozen hallways of the Marathon’s first deck, surrounded by cryopods, medical bays, and abandoned storage wings.
While onboard you and your crew will be cracking secure vaults and facing environmental hazards as you try to reach the ship’s most dangerous secrets. Survival here means mastering the security systems, navigating lethal checkpoints, taking on rival Runner crews, and, if you’re skilled enough, coming face-to-face with an enemy even the UESC fears.
Ranked Mode
While every run on Tau Ceti is a competition, for those who want to truly test their mettle, Marathon’s upcoming Ranked mode will bring an even sharper edge to the fight. Here, Runners will look to exfil with the most valuable loot and climb the Ranked ladders. Look for more soon.
In Season 2, the UESC have noted your criminal activities and will be responding in kind. Prepare for a fight.
We’ll be bringing new content your way, including a new Runner shell: Sentinel, new weapons, mods, cores, and the new Cradle system to give you more autonomy over your Runner shell’s statistical strengths and weaknesses. We’ll also introduce the nighttime version of Dire Marsh, where you’ll be challenged to survive as the light goes out and UESC reinforcements pour in.
There is certainly more detail to share, but as we try to do when on the surface of Tau Ceti, we’re going to exercise some trigger discipline for the time being. Rest assured, we’ll have more to say about all the great stuff coming to Marathon soon.
Until then, good luck on your runs and watch your backs out there when Marathon launches on March 5.
