Bungie is bringing its sci-fi extraction shooter Marathon into Destiny 2 in a major way. New leaks pulled from the game’s API reveal three full armor ornament sets themed around Marathon’s runner shells, one for each Guardian class. The timing couldn’t be more interesting – Destiny 2 just launched its Star Wars-themed Renegades expansion on December 2, 2025, and now Marathon content is apparently on deck for the Eververse store.
Three Complete Armor Sets Revealed
The Game Post spotted the new armor entries in Destiny 2’s updated API following the Renegades expansion launch. Unlike simple one-off ornaments, these are three complete armor sets with helmets, gauntlets, chest pieces, boots, and class items. Each set corresponds to a specific runner shell from Marathon that fans of the upcoming game will immediately recognize.
Titans get the Locus armor set, featuring heavy plating and an aggressive design that matches the tank-like runner from Marathon. Hunters receive the Void set, which emphasizes sleek lines and mobility befitting the agile playstyle. Warlocks sport the Blackbird armor set, showcasing the tech-heavy aesthetic appropriate for the scholar class. All three sets translate Marathon’s cyberpunk mercenary look into Destiny 2’s visual language surprisingly well.
The API listings still use placeholder labels, but leaked images tied to those entries make the connections crystal clear. These aren’t subtle nods or Easter eggs – they’re full-blown armor sets that will make your Guardian look like they stepped out of Marathon’s Tau Ceti colony. Whether you love or hate crossover cosmetics, you can’t deny Bungie is committing hard to connecting these two universes.
MIDA Multi-Tool Gets Marathon Treatment
Beyond the armor, the leak reveals a cosmetic bundle including an exotic weapon ornament for MIDA Multi-Tool, one of Destiny’s longest-running scout rifles. This choice makes perfect sense from a lore perspective. MIDA weapons have been in Destiny since the very beginning, and fans have long speculated they connect to Marathon’s universe based on their design and naming conventions.
The bundle also includes an exotic emote and a shader, though specific details about their appearance remain under wraps. Based on how these items are flagged in the backend data and their connection to the Eververse storefront, they’ll almost certainly be sold as a paid bundle rather than earned through gameplay. Destiny 2 has embraced cosmetic monetization heavily in recent years, and a premium crossover bundle fits that business model perfectly.
Why This Crossover Makes Business Sense
Bungie needs Marathon to succeed. The extraction shooter was originally scheduled to launch September 23, 2025, but got delayed indefinitely after the April gameplay reveal. Sony CFO Lin Tao stated the game should release before March 31, 2026, meaning it’s been pushed back at least six months to address major development issues. That delay costs money and momentum, making cross-promotion with Destiny 2’s massive existing player base a smart strategy.
The crossover works both directions. Earlier leaks revealed that pre-ordering Marathon will grant Destiny 2 players themed rewards including a ship, Ghost shell, and Sparrow. This creates an incentive structure where Destiny fans might pre-order Marathon just for exclusive cosmetics, and Marathon players might try Destiny 2 to see where their armor designs originated. It’s a win-win for Bungie’s engagement metrics across both titles.
Timing also matters here. Destiny 2 just launched Renegades, its Star Wars-branded expansion that went all-in on licensed crossover content with General Grievous, Darth Vader, and Kylo Ren armor sets. Following that with Marathon content maintains the crossover momentum while promoting Bungie’s own IP instead of paying licensing fees to Lucasfilm. The studio gets to capitalize on crossover hype without splitting revenue with external partners.
Renegades Sets the Stage
Renegades represents Destiny 2’s most ambitious licensed collaboration to date. The expansion takes place in the Star Wars universe, not just borrowing aesthetics but actually setting story missions in locations resembling Tatooine. Players get lightsaber-style exotic weapons like the Praxic Blade, Mandalorian-inspired armor, and encounters that feel pulled straight from a galaxy far, far away.
That expansion launched December 2, 2025, the same day the API updated with Marathon armor references. Bungie clearly sees crossover content as a major engagement driver. If Star Wars cosmetics sell well, flooding the Eververse with Marathon gear while that game builds toward launch becomes an obvious follow-up strategy. It keeps Destiny 2 players spending money on the current game while building anticipation for the next one.
Marathon’s Troubled Development
Marathon’s delay wasn’t a minor schedule adjustment. The game was publicly revealed with gameplay trailers and a closed alpha test in April 2025, then delayed just two months later in June. That suggests serious problems discovered late in development. Bungie described the delay as necessary to address unspecified issues, with a new release date to be announced later.
A closed technical test ran from October 22-28, 2025, testing improvements including three maps, five runner shells, proximity chat, retuned combat pacing, and deeper environmental storytelling. The fact that fundamental elements like combat pacing needed retuning months before the original launch date indicates Marathon wasn’t close to ready despite Bungie’s initial confidence. The technical test was explicitly described as a work in progress focused only on the early player experience.
Recent reports suggest Marathon will launch at a $40 base price with a deluxe edition including season pass tokens and a cosmetic-only battle pass. The game is targeting 28 weapons at launch across categories like auto rifles, LMGs, precision rifles, pistols, railguns, shotguns, and snipers. Those numbers feel modest compared to looter-shooters like Destiny 2, but extraction shooters typically emphasize tactical gameplay over weapon variety.
Community Reactions Mixed
Destiny 2’s community has complicated feelings about crossover content. The Star Wars collaboration generated massive excitement because people love Star Wars and Bungie executed it with high production values. Marathon cosmetics face a tougher sell because most players have never experienced Marathon gameplay firsthand and the game hasn’t launched yet.
Reddit discussions about the leak show confusion about whether Marathon content fits Destiny 2’s aesthetic. Some players argue the cyberpunk mercenary look meshes well with locations like Neomuna, the neon-soaked city on Neptune introduced in Lightfall. Others feel crossovers dilute Destiny’s identity and would prefer new original armor designs instead of promotional content for an unreleased game.
The bigger concern is that Bungie might be prioritizing Marathon promotion over Destiny 2’s health. The game just lost a significant chunk of its player base after controversial decisions in Year 7, and many fans feel the studio should focus on winning back that audience rather than using Destiny as a marketing platform. If the Marathon armor is sold for real money while actual gameplay content remains sparse, expect significant backlash.
No Official Announcement Yet
Bungie hasn’t officially confirmed the Marathon armor sets or when they’ll be available. The information comes entirely from datamined API entries and leaked images, which means plans could change before anything goes live. The studio could be waiting to announce this alongside a Marathon release date update, or they might drop it as a surprise when the Eververse inventory rotates.
Given that Marathon won’t launch until sometime before March 31, 2026, Bungie has a several-month window to deploy this crossover content. They could release it gradually – one armor set per month leading up to Marathon’s launch – or drop everything at once as a big promotional push. The strategy will likely depend on Marathon’s marketing timeline and how well the Star Wars content performed financially.
FAQs
What Marathon armor sets are coming to Destiny 2?
Three complete armor ornament sets themed around Marathon runner shells: Locus for Titans, Void for Hunters, and Blackbird for Warlocks. Each set includes helmet, gauntlets, chest piece, boots, and class item.
When will the Marathon crossover armor be available in Destiny 2?
Bungie hasn’t officially announced a release date. The armor sets were discovered in the game’s API after the December 2, 2025 Renegades expansion launch, but could release anytime before Marathon launches in early 2026.
Will the Marathon armor be free or paid?
Based on how the items are flagged in the API and their connection to the Eververse storefront, they’ll most likely be sold as paid cosmetic bundles rather than earned through gameplay.
What’s included in the Marathon cosmetic bundle?
The leaked bundle includes an exotic weapon ornament for MIDA Multi-Tool, an exotic emote, and a shader. Specific visual details haven’t been officially revealed yet.
When does Marathon release?
Marathon was delayed from its original September 23, 2025 release date. According to Sony, it should launch before March 31, 2026, but Bungie hasn’t announced a specific new date.
Are there Destiny 2 rewards for pre-ordering Marathon?
Yes. Earlier leaks indicated that pre-ordering Marathon will grant Destiny 2 players crossover rewards including a themed ship, Ghost shell, and Sparrow.
What is Marathon?
Marathon is Bungie’s upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter where players become cybernetically enhanced mercenaries called Runners. It features team-based PvP gameplay focused on completing objectives and extracting with loot while fighting other player teams.
Has Bungie confirmed this crossover?
No. All information comes from datamined API entries and leaked images. Bungie has not officially announced Marathon-themed armor or cosmetics for Destiny 2.
Why is MIDA Multi-Tool getting a Marathon ornament?
MIDA weapons have been in Destiny since the franchise began, and fans have long speculated they connect to Marathon’s universe based on their design and naming conventions. The ornament makes that connection more explicit.
Conclusion
The Marathon crossover armor represents Bungie’s attempt to leverage Destiny 2’s established player base to build hype for its troubled extraction shooter. Whether this strategy works depends entirely on execution and whether Marathon actually delivers when it finally launches. If the game flops despite the cross-promotion, these armor sets will become awkward reminders of failed ambitions. If Marathon succeeds, they’ll be nostalgic callbacks to the early days before launch when everything felt possible. Either way, Destiny 2 players should prepare to see plenty of cyberpunk mercenaries running around the Tower once Bungie officially flips the switch on this crossover. Just don’t expect to earn these cosmetics through gameplay – bring your wallet instead.