Marathon release countdown: Exact start time and date

Bungie’s latest title, Marathon, is a sci-fi extraction shooter set to release a few months into 2026. While Bungie occasionally releases gameplay trailers and cinematics, its latest ViDoc video unveiled an updated release window.

What’s the release date for Marathon?

Marathon will officially launch in March 2026, costing $39.99/€39.99/£34.99, depending on your region. These details were revealed in an official ViDoc video, with a separate announcement later on Bungie’s news page.

Bungie originally announced a September 23, 2025, release date during Marathon’s first gameplay reveal. Since then, it was briefly delayed before leading to this latest update.

Although this is subject to further delays, the latest information at the time of writing is that March 26 is Bungie’s current planned arrival time for Marathon. There’s no word on an official day beyond this.

This release time gives us just a few months to prepare for its release. In the past, Bungie has hosted promotional events leading up to the game’s launch, including a Twitch drops event where you could claim a Tau Ceti Emblem in Destiny 2. There are no ongoing events at the time of writing, but this can easily change as we approach the game’s launch.

Bungie has also revealed more details about Marathon’s launch features, noting that purchasing it grants full access to the game and includes free gameplay updates throughout 2026. According to Bungie, this willl include “new maps, new Runner shells, events, and more, starting with the exploration of UESC Marathon’s Cryo Archive in Season 1.”

Marathon’s initial gameplay showcase highlighted various streamers playing the game firsthand, showing exactly how its gunplay, map, and match missions work. The team behind Marathon also gives a complete overview of how the game works, from your characters’ abilities to its team dynamics and potential strategies. Exact details are limited, but there’s still a lot to unpack here.

The ViDoc expands on this further, detailing newly added features such as a proximity chat, solo queue, and overall improved visuals. It also dives deeper into the four zones that’ll be available from launch, alongside explaining how factions and progression work.

While Marathon’s Closed Alpha playtest periods are mostly over, keeping an eye on the game’s official Discord server and social media pages will help you stay in the loop in case Bungie hosts any additional playtests. While these playtests aren’t the fully polished version of the game, you’ll at least have an idea of how it works and what to expect leading up to its March launch.