Marathon will not be a free-to-play game but instead will be offered as a premium title. Dive deeper to understand Marathon's pricing strategy and the reasons behind the exclusion of proximity chat.
Marathon Development Updates
Marathon Will Not Be Free-To-Play
The director of Marathon has confirmed that the game will not follow the free-to-play model but will be available as a premium title. During a live gameplay showcase on April 13, Bungie, the developer behind Marathon, unveiled the game's release date and shared a new gameplay trailer. While the price remains undisclosed, fans are eager to learn about the game's monetization strategy.
In an enlightening episode of the Friends Per Second podcast aired on April 14, Marathon Director Joe Ziegler clarified, "We’re hoping that what we’re showing is exciting enough that someone is going to take the leap with us, but we are also committed to delivering on seasons past this that will continuously offer to evolve the game without an increase to the box price."
Ziegler expressed confidence in the game's current state and the team's dedication to enhancing its appeal. He remarked, "Everyone’s got their own definition of what is the right price."
Speculation about Marathon's pricing has been rampant on social media, with fans sharing their predictions. Bungie took to Twitter (X) on April 13 to clarify that Marathon will be a premium title, not a full-priced one, and promised to reveal more pricing details this summer.
Marathon Will Not Have Proximity Chat
Proximity chat, a feature allowing players to communicate based on their in-game proximity, has become a staple in many multiplayer games, enhancing immersion and interaction. However, it also introduces the risk of toxicity, as players can be exposed to a range of comments, from friendly to offensive.
Bungie has decided to forego proximity chat in Marathon due to these concerns. In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Ziegler explained the team's decision, stating, "When it comes to prox chat, I don't think we're against the experience of it, to be fair. I think the challenge is how to make sure we're creating a safe environment for players inside of that space."
Ziegler emphasized the importance of a safe gaming environment and acknowledged the difficulty in managing the toxicity that proximity chat can bring. While this decision limits opportunities for in-game negotiations and interactions with opposing teams, especially in an extraction shooter like Marathon, Bungie has not yet found a suitable solution. Ziegler concluded, "I think that's where we stand right now. Like, if it was magical and we could somehow come up with that solution, I think we totally would do it. But right now, it is a challenge that many companies are trying to figure out."
Marathon is scheduled for release on September 23, 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay tuned for the latest updates on the game by checking out our article below!
