Bungie’s New Game, Marathon, Rumored To Be NOT Free To Play

“Please do not be true” has been the wish of the Marathon players recently. The twist caught the gaming community off-guard, as recent reports are suggesting Marathon to be a pay-to-play game. Bungie’s Marathon is a highly anticipated extraction shooter that sparked intrigue with its game design, content, and other game features. However, its potential success is in a questionable position after rumor has it priced at $40. Since the news, discussions have been going around the community about its break-in the market.

The Price Tag Speculation

According to a close source of The Game Post, Bungie considered releasing Marathon with a $40 price tag. If the rumor is true, the new shooter game will abandon the free-to-play model that has been rising into popularity in the multiplayer shooter genre. This strategy is no stranger for the game-developing studio, Bungie. Since then, they have traditionally released games as premium products, such as Destiny 2 expansions. 

Comparisons to PlayStation’s Concord

Upon learning the rumor, the community immediately draws comparisons of the pricing strategy for Marathon with PlayStation’s Concord. This multiplayer game from PlayStation found themselves shutting down just two weeks after the launch. It flopped in the market due to its premium pricing model and mishaps in the studio’s management. With this, many have been asking whether Marathon will meet the same ill-fate of Concord. Premium multiplayer games in today’s market are struggling due to the availability of free-to-play alternatives. 

Game Design and Content

Marathon remains to be an intriguing title for many, despite the pricing rumors. It was first assumed through reports that Marathon will adopt a “hero shooter” format akin to games like Overwatch and Valorant. However, the recent information revealed that Bungie’s Marathon is a more traditional class-based system drawing memories of Team Fortress 2. The class will have unique abilities and play distinctively from one another. 

 

Besides that, Marathon’s gameplay loop took inspiration from extraction shooters like Escape from Tarkov and Call of Duty’s DMZ mode. With this design, Marathon has the potential to be distinctive from the saturated multiplayer shooter market.

Map Variety and Launch Content

There have been reports suggesting that Marathon will launch with multiple maps that cater to the Tarkov-style gameplay. Currently, the game only has two playable maps in development. Thus, the final count of available maps remains unclear. With this vision, Bungie has to make sure they bring variety and ensure quality of these maps to justify its premium price and retain players’ interest. 

Industry Context and Challenges

Certainly, releasing Marathon as a premium title will be challenging for the studio Bungie. The gaming market has been highly competitive and challenging at the same time. While there have been a lot of new titles in the market, the industry has been facing mass layoffs and project cancellations. Besides that, Bungie has faced internal dilemmas with the leadership. Its game director, Christopher Barrett, departed from the studio after alleged inappropriate behaviors. Thus, the success of the game, Marathon, will be crucial for all people working behind the game. 

Conclusion

The community is eagerly waiting for the official confirmation of the pricing model and content details for Bungie’s new game, Marathon. The set release for the title in PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S is 2025. As the year approaches, the contemplation on the success of Marathon has significantly increased. It’s a question whether the gameplay and Bungie’s reputation are enough to justify the premium price of $40 for the game. Can Marathon prove itself to be better in comparison to other free-to-play alternatives? 

These are the concerns going around Marathon as Bungie made and confirmed minimal information publicly. With that, players can enjoy the free-to-play model for a while as they await the final decision.