Marathon, Bungie’s new extraction shooter, received a long-awaited gameplay reveal on April 12 as well as a release date of September 23, but how much it’ll cost remains unanswered.
While the studio showcased ample gameplay and invited over 40 influencers and members of the press to get a front-row seat and hands-on experience for the big day, the subject of price didn’t come up during the hour-long presentation, leading to speculation that it could be free to play.
While not quite in the same wheelhouse as Fortnite or Apex Legends, both of which are free, Marathon is similar in the sense that it features no traditional single-player campaign and is strictly multiplayer only, with at least one form of optional in-app purchase in the form of a battle pass.
Will Marathon be free to play?
No, Marathon will not be free to play and will require an initial purchase when it launches on September 23. However, Bungie has yet to announce how much the sci-fi extraction shooter will cost at retail.
On April 12, the developer responded to an X/Twitter post containing an excerpt from a now-updated GameSpot article that originally indicated Marathon would be a full-price title to clarify the matter.
“Marathon will be a premium title. Marathon will not be a ‘full-priced’ title,” Bungie responded on April 12, adding that it would “announce details this summer.”
What exactly full price means in this context is up for debate due to numerous factors.
For PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, new releases of the AAA variety generally retail at $69.99. Assassin’s Creed Shadows, for example, launched with and retains (until inevitable discounts) that price tag on consoles, and Valve’s Steam platform.
Prior reporting claims that Bungie is aiming for a $40 price point, the same as Concord on release. Considering Sony owns Bungie now, this makes sense.
However, whether the game ends up being $70 or $40, responses to the fact that Marathon isn’t free to play have been overwhelmingly negative, especially considering it’ll have six playable characters and four maps at launch with just one game mode.
“If it’s $70 it’s gonna be Concord 2.0,” came one response, with others held firm on their acceptable price. “If it’s more than $40, this is a mistake,” another said, while more questioned other aspects; “Paying premium for a game with a battle pass is diabolical.”
Bungie’s correction is reassuring for consumers, at the very least, but it remains to be seen just how much Marathon will be when it hits retail in the fall.
For more Marathon details, check out everything we know about all four of the playable ‘Runners’ revealed so far, as well as how to sign up for the April 23 Closed Alpha Test.
