Is Marathon free-to-play?

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 13, 2025, 00:59 IST

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Bungie's upcoming sci-fi shooter Marathon will not be free and gamers will have to pay for it. The game is set to launch on September 23, 2025, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Cross-play will be available. A closed Alpha phase begins on April 23. Players can join the Marathon Discord server for Alpha testing codes.

Image via Bungee

Marathon is an upcoming sci-fi PvP extraction shooter from Bungie, who are the creators of the iconic Halo and Destiny franchises. The developers have finally released the official gameplay trailer on April 13, 2025, and the title is set to launch on September 23, 2025. Fans are extremely excited about its arrival, and it could potentially break the existing market of shooter games.
There are several questions in the minds of the fans about Marathon, one of them being whether the game is free-to-play or not. This article uncovers every detail about the same.

Marathon is not free-to-play, but the price hasn’t been confirmed yet

Bungie’s Marathon is not set to be free-to-play, and you will have to pay for the game once it releases on September 23, 2025. The title is going to be made available on the PC, PS5, and the Xbox Series X|S, and will also allow cross-play between the platforms.
As per the rumors within the community, the game is set to be priced at $70. However, the same isn’t going to be likely true, with the official X handle of Marathon replying to a tweet stating “Marathon will be a premium title. Marathon will not be a ‘full-priced’ title. We’ll announce details this Summer.”

In general, the full-priced titles cost $70, so Marathon is mostly not at the same mark. Fans can essentially expect the game to retail at approximately $40, which is also how much recent titles like Helldivers 2 and Concord costed.

Details about Marathon Closed Alpha

Prior to the official release in September, Marathon is set to enter the Closed Alpha phase on April 23. For the same, you will have to join the testing phase for the title. Essentially, you must simply join the official Marathon server on Discord, and it is where the Alpha testing codes for the game will be provided. You can type in the “Alpha” command within the chat to find further information about Marathon.
The Alpha is going to be an NDA Playtest, and you will not be allowed to share any gameplay footage of Marathon on any platform. Additionally, the test is only available to players that reside in North America. However, the PS5 test will be available for both North and South America.
It would be exciting to see how Marathon fares in the shooter genre, which is already dominated by different titles. Hopefully, the game will bring a breath of fresh air that the gaming community dearly needs.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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