Marathon will not be a free-to-play game but 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
Marathon Director confirmed that the game will not be free-to-play, but will be a premium title. Bungie, the developer behind Marathon, hosted a live gameplay showcase on April 13, where they unveiled the game's release date and showcased a new gameplay trailer. While the price remains undisclosed, fans are eager to learn how the game will be monetized.
In an episode of the Friends Per Second podcast on April 14, Marathon Director Joe Ziegler clarified that the game is not a free-to-play title. He stated, "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 of enjoyment and emphasized the team's commitment to making it awesome. "Everyone’s got their own definition of what is the right price," he noted.
Fans have been speculating about Marathon's price range based on various sources and have taken to social media to share their predictions. However, Bungie clarified via a Twitter (X) post on April 13 that Marathon will not be a full-priced title but a premium one. They will announce more details regarding its pricing this summer.
Marathon Will Not Have Proximity Chat
Proximity chat has become a common feature in multiplayer games, allowing players to hear each other based on their in-game proximity, which enhances the interactive and immersive experience. However, online gaming often attracts a diverse mix of players, and with proximity chat, this can lead to both friendly and toxic interactions.
This concern was significant enough for Bungie to exclude proximity chat from Marathon. In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Ziegler explained the 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 team's dedication to creating a safe space for players and admitted that they currently lack a solution to mitigate the toxicity that proximity chat can introduce. This decision does limit the ability to interact with opposing teams and negotiate through the map, which is particularly relevant in an extraction shooter like Marathon.
Nonetheless, Bungie has yet to find the perfect solution for this feature, so it will remain excluded from the game for now. "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," Ziegler concluded.
Marathon is scheduled for release on September 23, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay updated with the latest information about the game by checking out our article below!
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