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No. Marathon is a paid game, not a free-to-play title. You buy the base game once, and the seasonal gameplay updates Bungie has described are included after that purchase. Money spent in the game buys cosmetics and access to the Premium track of the Rewards Pass, not the ability to play or to progress through the core game.
What Marathon costs to start
Bungie’s December 15, 2025 pricing announcement stated the launch target as: “Marathon releases March 2026, targeting a price of $39.99/€39.99/£34.99.” That was a target announced before launch, so it is useful for understanding Bungie’s intent but not a guarantee of what any store charges today.
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Current storefront prices are what a buyer actually pays. The table below separates the announced target from the Steam listing, which was checked for this article and shows US pricing.
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| Price point | Amount | Source and scope |
|---|---|---|
| Announced launch target, US | $39.99 | Bungie, December 15, 2025; target only |
| Announced launch target, euro area | €39.99 | Bungie, December 15, 2025; target only |
| Announced launch target, UK | £34.99 | Bungie, December 15, 2025; target only |
| Steam base game, US storefront | $39.99 | Steam listing, US region; other regions, taxes, and currency conversion may differ |
| Steam Deluxe Edition, US storefront | $59.99 | Steam listing, US region |
| Steam Deluxe Upgrade, US storefront | $19.99 | Steam listing, US region; lets existing owners move up to Deluxe |
| Steam LUX bundle, US storefront | $9.99 | Steam listing, US region; a bundle of premium currency |
The Steam listing gives a release date of March 5, 2026. Prices are region-specific, so a buyer in another country should check their own store before purchase, and sales or bundles can change the figure at any time.
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What the base price includes
Bungie’s announcement described purchase as giving players “full access to the game, including a roadmap of free gameplay updates as the year progresses.” Bungie’s March 2026 article on seasons says each season brings new gameplay, gear, Runner shells, zones, and events that are free for all players to access or earn, with “no expansions or DLC required.”
That gives the base purchase a clear scope. The seasonal gameplay Bungie has described does not require a separate expansion or DLC purchase. It does not mean every item a future season might add will be free; cosmetics and pass tracks are handled separately, as explained below.
What costs extra
Marathon uses three currencies. Each has a different source and a different purpose, which is why the paid-or-free question depends on which one you are asking about.
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LUX: the premium currency
Bungie’s In-Game Currency and Reward Pass guide describes LUX as premium currency bought through platform stores with real money. It can be spent on cosmetic items for Runner shells, weapons, equipment, and profiles, and on the Premium track of a Reward Pass. Bungie is direct about the limit: “LUX can only be used to purchase cosmetic items from the in-game store or the Premium Reward Passes.”
SILK: earned through play
SILK comes from gameplay XP and Runner levels. It is used to progress through Rewards Pass tiers, so a player who never pays can still earn SILK and move through the free track.
Credits: in-game loot only
Credits are collected from in-game loot. The guide states they are not purchasable with real-world money.
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Rewards Passes
Each season’s Rewards Pass has a free track and a Premium track. Bungie says passes do not expire at season’s end, and that past and future passes can be bought later. That means a player who skips a season is not forced to earn its rewards during a limited window.
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Is it pay-to-win?
Bungie’s 2025 pricing post said: “we believe in preserving competitive integrity in Marathon, so survival will never come down to how much money you spend.” This is a stated design commitment from the developer, not an independent test of balance. The concrete claim the guide supports is narrower: LUX buys cosmetics and Premium pass access, and nothing in the official currency rules sells progression or power.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Editions and what they add
The Deluxe and Collector’s editions are the only paid variants the official edition guide describes. The Deluxe content is reward access and cosmetics, not the game itself, so it does not change whether you can play.
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| Edition | Price | Contents listed by Bungie |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $39.99 US (Steam) | Base game, access to free seasonal gameplay updates |
| Deluxe | $59.99 US (Steam) | Premium Rewards Pass voucher, 200 SILK tokens, weapon and Runner shell cosmetics |
| Collector’s | Not stated | 1/6-scale Thief Runner Shell statue, collectible WEAVEworm, embroidered patch, postcards, and digital rewards |
The official edition guide does not establish current availability of the Collector’s Edition at any retailer, and it does not state a price for it. Buyers who want the physical items should confirm stock with the seller before ordering. Deluxe is the easier comparison: the extras are optional, and the seasonal gameplay is included in the Standard edition.
Trials and limited-time events
Marathon has had limited-time open play events, including an Open Play Week that ran from June 2 to June 9, 2026. Events like this are time-boxed and have ended, so they do not change the paid model. Free access during an event is not the same as a permanent free-to-play version of the game.
Roadmap: what is planned, not delivered
Bungie’s September 24, 2026 update describes the following plans. Treat them as roadmap commitments, not shipped content, and check Bungie’s channels for delivery dates:
- An October refresh to progression and rewards.
- A December Symbiosis update that Bungie says brings the first permanent PvE experience and other additions.
- A larger March update that Bungie describes as connecting PvE, PvP, and PvEvP experiences.
None of these changes the purchase requirement as described by Bungie. If the roadmap shifts, the base-price model stated in Bungie’s announcements is the reference point.
How to check the current price before you buy
- Open the Marathon store page on your platform, such as Steam, and set the region to the one you will pay in.
- Compare the base edition and the Deluxe edition, not just the headline price.
- Look for a sale, bundle, or upgrade offer, and confirm whether it applies to the edition you want.
- If you are buying the Collector’s Edition, check that the seller has stock and that the listing includes the physical items.
Quotable statements from Bungie
- Bungie, Marathon Dev Team, December 15, 2025: “Purchasing Marathon will give you full access to the game, including a roadmap of free gameplay updates as the year progresses.”
- Bungie, Marathon Dev Team, December 15, 2025: “We also want to ensure you are logging in because you love the game, not from fear of missing out—so Marathon’s Rewards Passes will not expire, and you’ll be able purchase and unlock prior Passes.”
- Bungie, In-Game Currency and Reward Pass guide, undated: “LUX can only be used to purchase cosmetic items from the in-game store or the Premium Reward Passes.”
These are company statements about its own product and policies, and they are presented here as Bungie’s position rather than independent judgment.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
