Leaked pricing details for Bungie’s Marathon extraction shooter reveal the game will launch at $39.99 for the base edition with a $59.99 Deluxe Edition, according to prominent Destiny dataminer Colony Deaks (Deakstiny). The Deluxe bundle includes approximately $30 worth of season pass tokens, while individual cosmetic-only season passes will cost around $10 each. The leak arriving October 7, 2025 also confirms Marathon will feature 28 weapons at launch across categories including assault rifles, LMGs, snipers, and more, with pre-order bonuses providing Destiny 2 crossover items like ships, Ghosts, and Sparrows alongside Marathon cosmetics. The pricing reveal comes ahead of Marathon’s October 22-28 Closed Technical Test and follows Sony management’s stated goal of releasing the game by March 2026.
The $40 Premium Pricing Strategy
Marathon will skip the free-to-play model that many assumed Bungie would adopt, instead launching at $39.99 following the Helldivers 2 pricing strategy. The decision represents Sony’s calculated approach after Concord’s catastrophic free-to-play failure cost the company over $200 million. Bungie previously confirmed Marathon would not be a full-priced release, meaning players wouldn’t pay the typical $60-70 AAA standard, though $40 still qualifies as premium pricing requiring upfront purchase rather than generating revenue through microtransactions alone.
The Game Post exclusively reported Marathon’s $40 target price last year, with this week’s leak from Colony Deaks corroborating those earlier details alongside revealing additional monetization structures. The $40 entry point positions Marathon between free-to-play extraction shooters like The Cycle: Frontier and premium-priced competitors like Hunt: Showdown, attempting to balance accessibility with perceived quality signaling that premium pricing implies versus free-to-play stigma affecting retention and community toxicity.
Deluxe Edition and Season Pass Tokens
The $59.99 Deluxe Edition includes approximately $30 worth of season pass tokens, though Colony Deaks clarified it’s still unclear what these tokens will actually do in-game. If season passes cost $10 each as the leak suggests, the Deluxe Edition would include three full season passes worth of tokens, providing value proposition for players planning long-term engagement. That bundling approach encourages committing to Marathon upfront through larger initial purchases rather than deciding season-by-season whether content justifies continuing investment.
Season passes themselves reportedly cost $10 and are cosmetic-only, meaning no pay-to-win weapons, abilities, or progression advantages locked behind paid content. The cosmetic-only commitment addresses criticisms that Destiny 2 faced regarding essential content gating through expansions and season passes, though whether Bungie maintains that philosophy or gradually introduces gameplay-affecting premium items remains uncertain. Each season will introduce a new Runner according to the leak, providing fresh characters without forcing purchases to remain competitive.
How This Compares to Helldivers 2
Colony Deaks described Marathon’s pricing as pretty standard, comparing it directly to Helldivers 2’s successful $39.99 launch that generated massive PlayStation revenue without requiring $70 premium pricing. Helldivers 2 proved mid-tier pricing works for live service games when execution delivers quality experiences justifying costs, selling over 12 million copies within months through positive word-of-mouth rather than aggressive free-to-play onboarding funnels. Marathon’s adoption of that model suggests Sony learned from both Helldivers 2’s success and Concord’s failure.
The 28 Launch Weapons
Marathon will feature 28 weapons at launch spanning multiple categories according to the leak, providing substantial arsenal variety for the extraction shooter’s gameplay loops. While specific weapon names weren’t detailed, the count includes assault rifles, light machine guns, sniper rifles, shotguns, pistols, and specialty weapons that define distinct playstyles. The 28-weapon count exceeds many extraction shooters at launch, suggesting Bungie prioritizes combat depth and build variety over minimalist approaches that other games expand post-launch through seasonal content drops.
The weapon count also addresses concerns from early Marathon previews that criticized limited gameplay variety during closed alpha testing. Whether those 28 weapons feel meaningfully distinct versus superficial stat variations determines if the arsenal delivers promised depth or merely pads content lists. Bungie’s extensive Destiny experience crafting weapons with unique perks and feel suggests Marathon’s arsenal will emphasize meaningful differentiation, though extraction shooters require different balancing philosophies than Destiny’s RPG-focused loot systems.
Pre-Order Bonuses and Destiny Crossovers
Pre-ordering Marathon unlocks bonuses for both Marathon and Destiny 2, creating cross-promotional incentives leveraging Bungie’s established player base. Destiny 2 players receive a themed ship, Ghost, and Sparrow featuring Marathon-inspired aesthetics. Interestingly, dataminers discovered a Marathon-themed Sparrow in Destiny 2 game files earlier this year, confirming these crossover rewards were planned months before official announcements. The Destiny bonuses appeal to the franchise’s millions of active players who might overlook Marathon without explicit incentives connecting the games.
For Marathon itself, pre-order bonuses include a pink pistol weapon skin, charm, emblem, profile background, and decal. The cosmetic focus aligns with season pass philosophy avoiding gameplay advantages for paying customers, ensuring competitive integrity where skill determines outcomes rather than wallet size. The pink pistol skin specifically targets audiences seeking personalization options and aesthetic expression, demographics that live service games heavily monetize through cosmetic marketplaces generating ongoing revenue beyond initial purchases.
October 22-28 Closed Technical Test
Bungie opened player signups for Marathon’s Closed Technical Test running October 22-28, 2025, allowing North American and European players to experience early gameplay ahead of launch. The NDA’d playtest focuses on technical stress testing rather than content showcases, meaning participants cannot stream or share footage publicly. That approach protects Bungie from premature public reactions to unfinished builds while gathering crucial performance data across diverse hardware configurations and network conditions.
The timing immediately following pricing leaks creates awkward situation where playtesters enter knowing monetization structures before Bungie officially reveals them. Whether Bungie addresses leaks during the technical test or ignores them while proceeding with planned November announcement remains uncertain. The playtest also provides first public hands-on since the delayed indefinite postponement following mixed feedback from earlier closed alpha testing that reportedly contributed to Marathon’s redesign.
The Redesign and Delay Context
Marathon was originally scheduled for September 2025 release but faced indefinite delay after Sony and Bungie leadership evaluated early builds and determined the game needed substantial rework. The delay followed Concord’s catastrophic failure where Sony shut down the hero shooter just two weeks post-launch after spending over $200 million across eight years of development. That disaster made Sony hypersensitive about launching underbaked live service games that damage brand reputation and waste resources better allocated elsewhere.
Additionally, controversy erupted when fans accused Marathon of copying art from independent artist Boneface without proper attribution or compensation. Bungie eventually addressed concerns after community backlash, though the incident damaged enthusiasm already fragile following mixed alpha feedback. The combined pressures forced leadership acknowledging Marathon needed more time rather than rushing to market meeting arbitrary fiscal year deadlines that sacrifice quality for financial reporting convenience.
Former Concord Developer’s Warning
A former Concord developer responded to claims that Marathon is Concord 2, warning against repeating mistakes that doomed Sony’s hero shooter. The comparison stems from both being live service extraction/hero shooters from Sony-owned studios following expensive development cycles with uncertain commercial prospects. Whether Marathon learns from Concord’s failures regarding character design, monetization psychology, and gameplay loop engagement determines if Bungie avoids similar catastrophic launch that forces shutdown within weeks.
Sony’s March 2026 Target
Sony management stated wanting Marathon released by March 2026, aligning with fiscal year ending and providing concrete timeline expectations for investors and stakeholders. However, the March target depends entirely on current development state following redesign work. If October’s technical test reveals substantial issues requiring additional months addressing, Sony might delay further rather than repeating Concord mistakes launching broken products that destroy franchises permanently.
The March window also creates challenging competitive landscape where Marathon launches during crowded spring release season. Major AAA titles, indie darlings, and established live service games all compete for player time and money during periods when audiences have limited bandwidth consuming new content. Marathon needs differentiating strongly against extraction shooter competitors like Escape from Tarkov, Hunt: Showdown, and The Cycle while avoiding being buried under simultaneous launches from bigger-budget franchises.
November Marketing Push Expected
Bungie will reportedly provide major Marathon update sometime in November 2025, likely revealing pricing, release dates, and extensive gameplay showcases following October’s closed technical test feedback integration. The November timing positions Marathon for year-end holiday marketing pushes while providing buffer between technical test conclusions and public reveals. That schedule allows incorporating playtest feedback into presentations rather than showing outdated builds that don’t reflect current development state.
The November reveal presumably confirms or adjusts leaked pricing details, announces definitive release dates rather than vague March 2026 windows, and showcases polished gameplay demonstrating improvements since alpha testing that generated mixed reactions. Bungie’s reputation currently sits at precarious position following Destiny 2’s declining quality, mass layoffs affecting hundreds of employees, and general concern that Marathon represents make-or-break moment for the studio’s independence under Sony ownership.
Community Reception to Pricing Leak
The Reddit r/GamingLeaksAndRumours thread received 444 upvotes with 501 comments expressing mixed reactions to Marathon’s $40 pricing. Some commenters appreciated the premium model versus predatory free-to-play monetization, while others questioned whether Marathon justifies $40 given uncertain quality following alpha feedback and redesign delays. The cosmetic-only season pass commitment generated positive responses from players tired of pay-to-win mechanics, though skeptics noted that Bungie could gradually introduce gameplay-affecting items post-launch after building initial goodwill.
Comparisons to Helldivers 2’s successful $40 pricing provided optimistic framing, though others noted that Helldivers 2 benefited from surprise viral success rather than launching with Marathon’s baggage including Destiny 2’s declining reputation, Concord’s catastrophic failure, and months of negative coverage surrounding delays and controversies. Whether Marathon overcomes those headwinds through excellent execution or succumbs to them regardless of quality determines if $40 pricing proves prescient or overconfident.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will Marathon cost?
According to leaks, Marathon will cost $39.99 for the base edition and $59.99 for the Deluxe Edition. The Deluxe version includes approximately $30 worth of season pass tokens.
Is Marathon free-to-play?
No, Marathon requires upfront purchase at $39.99, following Helldivers 2’s premium pricing strategy rather than free-to-play model. Bungie previously confirmed it won’t be full-priced ($60-70) release.
Are Marathon season passes pay-to-win?
No, leaked details indicate season passes costing around $10 will be cosmetic-only, providing no gameplay advantages. Each season will introduce new Runners (characters) available to all players.
How many weapons will Marathon have at launch?
The leak claims Marathon will feature 28 weapons at launch spanning categories including assault rifles, LMGs, snipers, shotguns, pistols, and specialty weapons.
When does Marathon release?
Sony management wants Marathon released by March 2026, though no official date is confirmed. Bungie will reportedly provide major update in November 2025 following October 22-28 closed technical test.
What are Marathon’s pre-order bonuses?
Pre-ordering provides Destiny 2 crossover items (ship, Ghost, Sparrow) and Marathon cosmetics including pink pistol skin, charm, emblem, profile background, and decal.
When is Marathon’s next playtest?
The Closed Technical Test runs October 22-28, 2025 for players in North America and Europe. Sign-ups are currently open through Bungie’s website, though the test is under NDA preventing public footage sharing.
Conclusion
Marathon’s leaked $39.99 base pricing and $59.99 Deluxe Edition following Helldivers 2’s successful premium model represents Bungie and Sony’s calculated approach after Concord’s catastrophic failure demonstrated risks of both free-to-play and full-priced live service games. The cosmetic-only $10 season passes address pay-to-win concerns while the 28 launch weapons suggest substantial content depth, though whether execution justifies premium pricing versus competitors remains uncertain pending October 22-28 Closed Technical Test feedback and November’s expected major reveal. Pre-order bonuses leveraging Destiny 2 crossovers demonstrate smart cross-promotional strategies targeting Bungie’s established player base, while the Deluxe Edition’s $30 season pass token value proposition encourages long-term commitment from players betting on Marathon’s sustained quality. Sony’s March 2026 release target creates challenging timeline following indefinite delay and redesign work, though leadership learned from Concord that rushing underbaked live service games destroys franchises permanently, making further delays preferable to repeating $200 million disasters. Whether Marathon overcomes skepticism from Destiny 2’s declining reputation, alpha testing’s mixed reception, and general live service fatigue depends entirely on November’s gameplay showcases convincing audiences that Bungie’s extraction shooter justifies $40 entry fee in crowded competitive landscape.