via Game Developer
Bungie is overhauling Marathon from its original extraction shooter vision
Bungie says addressing player feedback requires the team to 'change both what we're building and how we deliver it,'
Marathon
Released Mar 5, 2026
Rating 62/100
Playtime ~1h
Marathon is Bungie's live-service extraction shooter that launched in March 2026 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC. The game has undergone significant shifts since release, with the studio recently announcing an ambitious multi-season roadmap aimed at stabilizing its player base.
A major turning point came with the introduction of Vault Breaker, a PvE mode that initially launched as a limited-time experiment before Bungie decided to make it a permanent fixture. This addition contributed to a measurable surge in player engagement, with Sony noting growth following the mode's release and Season 2's launch. Looking ahead, Season 3 will bring map revamps and new cosmetics, while Season 5 is positioned as a particularly significant update that has generated renewed optimism among players about the game's direction.
However, Marathon continues to face headwinds: concurrent player numbers on Steam remain substantially lower than Destiny 2 despite that game entering end-of-service status. Leadership changes at Bungie have also marked a transition period as the studio consolidates focus on Marathon as its primary live-service project.
Coverage (41)
via Game Developer
via Eurogamer
Marathon's permanent PvE mode and next major update delayed to December days before launch, and Bungie's "moving away from a strict season schedule"
Marathon Season 3 and everything that was due to come alongside it has been delayed, including the sci-fi shooter's long-awaited full PvE mode. Bungie's next major update is now launching in December instead, and the famed studio is pivoting away from seasonal updates entirely. R…
Marathon Update 1.1.9.1
The one about an Overflow issue
via Cgmagonline
Marathon Delays Next Content Update to December 8th, Bungie Shifting Away from Seasonal Model
The next update, Symbiosis, will add a new social space/firing range, experimental Team Deathmatch, and a permanent PvE mode.
via GameRant
Marathon Season 3 Officially Delayed
Big changes are on the horizon for Marathon as Bungie announced a lengthy delay for Season 3 as the studio works on other huge overhauls to the game.
via PC Gamer
Bungie delays next Marathon update and ends 'strict seasonal schedule' as it goes all-in on Destiny-like features
Big changes are coming, but not until December.
via KitGuru
Marathon moves away from Seasonal structure as next major update delayed to December
Initially planned to launch next week, Bungie have now announced that they are delaying the next big Marathon update to December. The post Marathon moves away from Seasonal structure as next major update delayed to December first appeared on KitGuru .
Marathon Updates Slowing Down As Bungie Moves Away From “Strict Seasonal Schedule”
It's a sign Sony won't invest more into Bungie.
via AllKeyShop
Marathon’s September 22 Update Is Gone, but Bungie Has Named What Comes Next
Bungie’s September 14 Marathon update outlines Nightfall Refresh and Symbiosis as reporting points to a delayed major patch and a looser seasonal cadence.
via Tech4Gamers
Bungie Abandons Seasonal Format For Marathon As Extraction Shooter Continues To Struggle
Bungie is changing course for Marathon by delaying upcoming content and moving away from a strict seasonal model. Bungie Abandons Seasonal Format For Marathon As Extraction Shooter Continues To Struggle is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News
via Dualshockers
Marathon Reveals New Update Schedule to 'Improve Features'
Marathon's next major content update has been delayed until December.
Marathon’s next major update will now come in December’s Symbiosis content
Bungie has announced that the major Marathon update that was supposed to be launching on September 22nd will now be rolled into the December 8th Symbiosis update. The reason for the delay is that the development team needs additional time to polish what was going to be released n…
via GameRant
Marathon and Bungie Get Encouraging Update
The future of both Marathon and Bungie gets a very encouraging update.
via GameRiv
Bungie Accidentally Gives Marathon Players Better Login Rewards Than Intended
Bungie accidentally gave Marathon players a much better weekly login reward than intended, but instead of simply correcting the mistake, the developer has decided to compensate everyone. The Marathon development team confirmed that this week’s login reward contained an incorrectl…
via Dualshockers
Waste The Fallen Preview: Marathon Meets Lovecraft
Extraction shooters fans may be intrigued by RoyalCrow's upcoming Lovecraft and cosmic-horror inspired extraction shooter, Waste The Fallen.
Marathon Update 1.1.9
The one about Rook's inventory
via GamesRadar+
People don't understand Steam player numbers, Palworld lead says: "Poor Marathon and stuff are getting dragged through the mud ... I'm sure our day's coming"
"Not to dog on SteamDB, because I love those guys"
via GameRiv
Marathon Leak Reveals K-Pop Runner Skins as Bungie Prepares for Crucial Season 3
A new Marathon leak has revealed several experimental cosmetic concepts Bungie is reportedly testing with players, including a striking K-pop-themed Runner skin. The concepts arrive at a crucial moment for the extraction shooter, with its Steam player count recently dropping belo…
via GameRiv
Marathon Season 3 Leaks Reveal Huge Four-Run PvE Mode, New Bosses, Weapons, and More
Marathon Season 3 could be shaping up to be Bungie’s biggest update yet. A new leak allegedly originating from a recent private playtest has revealed extensive details about the upcoming PvE experience, including four connected runs, several bosses, a major Perimeter expansion, n…
Marathon Update 1.1.5.5
The one about the UESC Manifests
via TheGamer
Marathon's Steam Player Count Briefly Fell To Less Than 1,000 Players
There was briefly fewer than 1,000 people playing Marathon on PC on Monday as concerns for Bungie's future continue to grow.
via GameRiv
Marathon Drops Below 1,000 Concurrent Steam Players for the First Time
Bungie’s Marathon has reached another uncomfortable milestone on Steam, with its concurrent player count falling below 1,000 for the first time since launch. According to a Steam chart on August 24, Marathon dropped to 987 concurrent players. Community tracking later suggested th…
via Dexerto
Marathon organizers admit bizarre error after wrong stadium appears on medal
The medal was revealed ahead of the August 30 race and features a Sydney skyline designed to represent landmarks runners will encounter.
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via GamesRadar+
Marathon Update 1.1.5.4
The one about Ordnance Heist
via GameRiv
Marathon Update 1.1.5.4 Adds Better Ranked Loot and Teases Explosive New Weapon
Bungie is preparing another notable update for Marathon, with Update 1.1.5.4 scheduled to arrive on August 18. Alongside a mysterious weapon teaser and another experimental activity, the developer has confirmed that Ranked maps are getting a major loot adjustment designed to make…
Marathon Update 1.1.5.3
The one about the FPS counter
via GameRant
Destiny 2 Player Count is Nearly 10x Bigger Than Marathon
Even though Bungie isn't planning any future updates for Destiny 2, its player count is much bigger than Marathon's.
Marathon Update 1.1.5.2
The one about more Vault Breaker
via Tech4Gamers
Marathon Is Performing Well Following The Release of Season 2, Says Sony
Contrary to popular belief, Bungie's Marathon seems to be performing well for Sony, especially after the release of the second season. Marathon Is Performing Well Following The Release of Season 2, Says Sony is a post from Tech4Gamers - All About Technology And Gaming News
via GameRiv
Marathon Season 2 Appears to Be Growing Its Player Base, Sony Says
Bungie’s Marathon appears to have gained momentum following the release of Season 2. During its latest earnings presentation, Sony revealed that the extraction shooter has maintained strong player retention while continuing to bring new users into the game. In brief Sony addresse…
Marathon Update 1.1.5.1
The one about VIP reward packages
Marathon player figures surge following launch of PvE mode Vault Breaker
Now Destiny 2 is going the way of the dodo and Bungie is putting all of its eggs into Marathon's baskets, fans of the developer are left with a choice: do they move over to the extraction shooter or leave Bungie behind for good? Bungie is clearly somewhat aware of the situation m…
Marathon Update 1.1.5
The one about Vault Breaker
via GameRant
Marathon is Getting New PVE Game Mode, But There's a Catch
Marathon is officially getting a brand-new PvE mode called 'Vault Breaker', but there's a big catch involved.
via GameRant
It's Officially the End of an Era for Bungie's Marathon
A recent shift in leadership has officially brought the end of an era for Bungie's live-service sci-fi shooter, Marathon.
via KitGuru
Bungie bringing permanent PvE mode to Marathon
Bungie announced plans to bring an experimental PvE mode to Marathon last month. The limited-time version of this mode will still be happening, but it will be back sooner than expected, as Bungie has already decided that PvE will now become a permanent part of Marathon. In an ann…
via Shacknews
What is the start date of Marathon Season 3?
Marathon will be entering Season 3 later in the year where it will bring a revamp to Perimeter, a new Runner shell, and more.
via GameRiv
Marathon Season 5 Could Save The Game, But Its Player Count Might Not Last That Long
Bungie just laid out one of the most ambitious live-service roadmaps in recent memory, and Season 5 is the part that has fans genuinely excited. The pitch is bold, the vision is clear, and it sounds like the studio finally knows exactly where it wants Marathon to go. But the prob…
via PCGamesN
Destiny 2 has over 10x more players than Marathon on Steam, despite end of service
Despite Marathon being the newer game, Destiny 2 still has a higher player count overall, despite being in it's end-of-service state.