What to know
- Open “Server Slam” preview runs February 26–March 2, 2026
- Full launch arrives March 5, 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
- PvPvE extraction format with persistent risk-reward economy
- Seasonal updates expand maps, Runners, and ranked modes
Marathon is the latest multiplayer shooter from Bungie, officially scheduled to launch worldwide on March 5, 2026. You can access the game earlier during the limited Server Slam open preview from February 26 through March 2, 2026. The preview is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC via Steam, with full cross-play enabled.
You play a cybernetic mercenary known as a Runner, deployed to the lost colony world of Tau Ceti IV in the year 2893. Instead of a traditional campaign, you experience the narrative through evolving seasonal content, contracts, and environmental storytelling. Bungie positions the game as a competitive extraction shooter where you enter a contested zone, gather loot, and attempt to escape alive. If you extract successfully, you keep what you collected. If you are eliminated before extraction, you lose the gear you brought into that run.
This structure defines the core gameplay loop. Each deployment forces you to weigh risk against reward. You decide whether to push deeper into dangerous areas for higher-tier loot or leave early with modest gains. AI enemies share the map with rival players, creating layered encounters that shift rapidly. You can queue solo, in duos, or in three-player squads. While solo play is supported, coordinated teams naturally hold tactical advantages in communication and map control.
At launch, you choose from multiple Runner shells that determine baseline abilities and survivability traits. You then modify your build through weapons, attachments, cybernetic implants, and faction contracts. Long-term progression expands vault capacity and unlocks additional tactical options. Bungie confirms six in-game factions at launch, each offering contract paths that strengthen your character over time.
The seasonal structure is central to how the game evolves. Bungie plans ongoing updates that introduce map changes, new Runners, balance adjustments, ranked modes, and story developments. This live-service approach builds on systems the studio previously refined in Halo and Destiny, while adapting them to the extraction format. Development leadership includes director Joe Ziegler, whose competitive multiplayer background informs the emphasis on tactical pacing and structured risk.
You can participate in the Server Slam preview for free during its February window to test maps, Runners, and early progression systems. The full version releases March 5, 2026 across all announced platforms with cross-play active from day one. Console players can opt out of PC matchmaking if they prefer platform-restricted pools.
As of February 17, 2026, the game is not yet publicly playable, but the preview period begins in nine days. If you are evaluating whether to jump in at launch, the open preview offers your first opportunity to assess performance, pacing, and balance before committing to the full release.
