Marathon will be a premium game, not free-to-play. Learn more about its pricing structure and the developers' decision to exclude proximity chat.
Marathon Development Insights
Marathon's Premium Pricing Model
Game Director Christopher Barrett confirmed Marathon will follow a premium pricing model rather than free-to-play. During Bungie's April 13 gameplay showcase, the developer revealed the release date and new trailer but kept pricing details under wraps, sparking fan speculation about monetization strategies.
Appearing on the April 14 Friends Per Second podcast, Game Director Joe Ziegler clarified the premium approach: "We're confident our content will justify the initial investment. We're committed to evolving the game through seasonal updates without raising the base price."
Ziegler expressed confidence in the game's current quality and the team's dedication to ongoing improvements. "Value perception varies among players," he noted regarding pricing expectations.
While fans have speculated about potential price points across social media, Bungie confirmed via Twitter on April 13 that Marathon will be a premium title rather than full-priced. Additional pricing details will be revealed this summer.
Why Marathon Excludes Proximity Chat
While proximity chat has become common in multiplayer games, enabling voice communication between nearby players for immersion, Bungie decided against implementing this feature. The development team cited concerns about maintaining a positive gaming environment, as proximity chat often leads to toxic interactions.
In a PC Gamer interview, Ziegler explained the reasoning: "We're not opposed to proximity chat's potential for engagement, but our priority is ensuring player safety. Creating a secure communicative environment presents significant challenges."
The director acknowledged that excluding proximity chat reduces opportunities for player interaction and negotiation, particularly in an extraction shooter context. However, without effective solutions to mitigate toxicity, the team opted to prioritize community safety.
Bungie remains open to implementing proximity chat should effective moderation solutions emerge. "If we could magically solve the toxicity problem, we'd implement it immediately," Ziegler commented. "This challenge currently faces the entire industry."
Marathon launches September 23, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Stay informed about the latest developments by checking our coverage below.
