Bungie has confirmed that Marathon will have a free trial weekend before its official release. The open preview arrives ahead of the March 5, 2026 launch, giving players a risk-free chance to test the extraction shooter before spending $40.
Marathon Free Trial Dates and Details
The confirmation came via X (formerly Twitter) in response to a community question. When asked about a free playtest before release, the official Marathon account responded: "Yes. We'll have an open preview weekend before launch, and everyone will be able to try Marathon out."
The free trial will be available across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Bungie hasn't announced exact dates yet, but the Marathon free weekend will likely fall on February 28 to March 1, 2026 (the final weekend before launch). February 21st remains another possibility.
Players can expect a partial version of the game during the preview, potentially covering the first five to ten hours of gameplay. That's enough time to get a feel for Marathon's core extraction shooter loop and make an informed purchase decision.
Why Bungie Is Offering a Free Trial
The Marathon free weekend serves Bungie on multiple fronts. The open preview lets the studio stress test servers, check weapon balance, and verify that key features hold up under high player volume before launch day.
For players, the free trial eliminates the biggest barrier to entry. Extraction shooters are notoriously punishing, and $40 is a significant ask for an unproven game. The free weekend offers the only chance to experience Marathon's persistent world (where player actions leave lasting marks on the colony of Tau Ceti IV) without spending a dime.
High Stakes for Bungie
The open preview weekend arrives at a critical moment for the studio. After a decade of Destiny dominance, Bungie is betting its reputation on Marathon. It's the studio's first new franchise since Destiny and a revival of a series that's been dormant for 30 years (the last Marathon game released in 1996).
Development hasn't been smooth. Marathon was originally slated for September 23rd, 2025, but Bungie delayed the game indefinitely in June 2025. The studio said it needed more time to "craft Marathon into the game that truly reflects your passion," then went dark for months before announcing the new March 5, 2026 date. That's roughly five months later than the original target.
Controversy has followed the project too. Bungie settled art plagiarism allegations last year. The affected artist released a statement saying they were satisfied with the resolution, though the specific terms weren't disclosed.
Given this history, the free weekend functions as a trial by fire. Bungie needs to prove that its combat expertise (honed through years of Destiny) can translate to the high-stakes extraction shooter format. A preview from April 2025 raised concerns that "a paid game that is light on content but full of hopes, dreams, and ambitions may not be enough to inspire in others the same confidence" that some have in Bungie.
The free trial gives the studio a chance to change that narrative before launch.
The $40 Price Tag in Today's Market
Many expected Marathon to go free-to-play. Instead, Bungie committed to a $39.99 premium price point, and that decision stands out in the current landscape.
Recent AAA titles have launched at $60 or higher, with some observers expecting upcoming releases like GTA 6 to push well beyond that. Players have grown frustrated with full-price games that underdeliver on content and polish. Marathon's $40 price sits in a middle ground: premium enough to signal confidence, but accessible enough to lower the barrier for hesitant buyers.
The paid model is particularly notable for extraction shooters. Competitors in the genre have often launched free-to-play, banking on cosmetic sales and battle passes. Marathon's approach suggests Bungie believes the game can stand on its own without relying on a free-to-play funnel.
The free weekend becomes even more important in this context. It's the only opportunity to verify whether Marathon delivers $40 worth of value before committing. If Bungie can't convince players during this window, the March launch could struggle to build momentum.
Marathon Pre-Order Options
Players who want to commit early have several editions to choose from:
- Standard Edition ($40): The base game with pre-order bonuses.
- Deluxe Edition ($60): Includes the Midnight Decay bundle, a premium reward pass voucher, and 200 SILK Rewards Pass Tokens, plus all pre-order rewards.
- Collector's Edition: A physical edition featuring exclusive Runner Shell merchandise.
Pre-orders have already pushed Marathon into Steam's best-seller list, showing strong interest despite the rocky development. Still, there's no rush to commit. The free weekend exists specifically so players can try before they buy.
PC System Requirements for the Free Weekend
Players planning to join the Marathon free trial on PC will need to meet these specs:
Minimum Specifications
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti or AMD RX 5500 XT
- CPU: Intel i5-6600 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600
- RAM: 8 GB
Recommended Specifications
- Graphics Card: NVIDIA GTX 2060 or AMD RX 5700 XT
- CPU: Intel i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- RAM: 16 GB
The minimum specs call for hardware that's nearly a decade old, making the free trial accessible to players with older rigs who've struggled with recent Unreal Engine 5 titles. Bungie appears to be prioritizing high frame rates and accessibility over graphical fireworks. For a competitive PvP extraction shooter, that's the right call.
What to Look For During the Free Trial
The Marathon free weekend gives players a chance to evaluate several key features:
Solo Queue: Extraction shooters are brutal for solo players, but Bungie has added a dedicated solo queue to address frustrations with "trios-only" gameplay from earlier builds.
Proximity Chat: Voice communication with nearby players adds social unpredictability to extractions. Negotiation and deception both become viable tactics.
Runner Shells: Marathon doesn't have custom character creation. Players instead choose from Runner Shells (preset classes with distinct abilities) covering archetypes like stealth, assault, and tank.
The Rook System: Marathon's take on zero-to-hero gameplay. The Rook is a free Runner Shell that spawns players into matches 10-15 minutes late, letting them scavenge scraps without risking gear. Unlike similar systems in other extraction shooters, the Rook is solo-only, grants no task progression, and has a unique passive that makes PvE enemies ignore the player. It's purely a recovery tool for when resources run dry.
Combat Feel: Bungie built its reputation on satisfying gunplay through Destiny. The free weekend is the test to see if that expertise carries over to a new genre.
Marathon Release Date and Platforms
Marathon launches March 5, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam with full cross-platform support.
A bit of lore trivia: March 5th stylizes as "Mar 5," which looks a lot like "Mars." That's fitting, since the UES Marathon (the central space station in the game's universe) was constructed from Deimos, one of Mars's moons.
Should You Play the Marathon Free Weekend?
The free trial offers a no-risk chance to test Marathon before spending any money. Players can use the preview to see if the extraction shooter gameplay clicks and whether Bungie has addressed concerns from earlier playtests.
For anyone curious about Marathon but hesitant because of the $40 price or the game's troubled development, the free weekend removes that obstacle. Late February is the time to mark on the calendar.
