Here we go again. The inventories are being emptied, the ranks reset, and a ton of new changes are reshaping Tau Ceti IV and how players navigate it. Marathon season 2 goes live today and kicks off a new nighttime survival horror map, introduces a new character, and begins the PvP extraction shooter’s journey to having a PvE-only mode. Here’s what players should know about Bungie’s first seasonal update, what’s staying the same, and more importantly, what’s going to be completely different.

When does Marathon season 2 go live?

June 2, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Is Marathon going free-to-play?

No, at least not yet. It still normally costs $40, but it will be free for the first week of season 2. That runs June 2 through June 9. Players across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC can hop in and experience the full game at no cost, with all progress carrying over for anyone who decides to eventually buy it. As a reminder though, anyone on console will still need a paid subscription (PS Plus or Game Pass Core) in order to play Marathon even when it’s free since it’s an online multiplayer game.

I’m sorry, what is this game again?

Marathon is a sci-fi extraction shooter from Bungie, maker of Halo and Destiny (RIP), set in the world of its original 1990s IP about a mysteriously abandoned colony ship, a rogue AI, and corporate nihilism. Indentured servants called Runners have their consciousnesses repeatedly downloaded into synthetic shells made from alien silkworms to scavenge the abandoned ruins of Tau Ceti IV. What this means in practice is spawning on a map with two teammates, running around fighting security droids and looting stuff, and then trying to exfil, all while enemy teams try to do the same.

Won’t I be at a disadvantage against everyone who’s already been playing since launch?

Yes and no. People who have been playing dozens or even hundreds of hours will have a lot more experience when it comes to map knowledge, what to look and listen for when moving around, and the tactics and strategies that make for ideal matchups against opposing teams. But all gear and upgrades are resetting at the start of season 2. Everyone will be inhabiting an even playing field gameplay-wise, at least to start, and the free week presumably means lots of other newbies will be entering the mix as well.

Wait, I played hundreds of hours of Marathon season 1 and now have nothing to show for it?

Not exactly. You still have all of your codex entries unlocked, all of your factions unlocked, and all of your cosmetics. You’ll also get some initial care packages full of some starting resources depending on your rank at the end of season 1:

Reach Runner Level 10: Unlock Enhanced CyberAcme Sponsored Kit Reach Runner Level 25: Unlock Enhanced CyberAcme Sponsored Kit plus all prior rewards Reach Runner Level 50: Deluxe CyberAcme Sponsored Kit plus all prior rewards Reach Runner Level 75: Superior CyberAcme Sponsored Kit plus all prior rewards

What’s different in Marathon season 2?

A lot, actually. The biggest content additions are as follows: an updated Dire Marsh (Night) zone, new Sentinel Runner shell, new progression system called the Cradle, new weapons, updated contracts, faction progression improvements, and sandbox balance changes. Let’s break down each one of those real quick.

What’s so cool about Dire Marsh at night?

You might think that simply swapping the time of day for an existing map instead of adding an entirely new one would be a big disappointment. In fact, that’s how I originally felt. But then I saw the first trailer for the new map and realized how much everything being dark would completely upend the way I currently play Marathon. Limited vision, flashlights giving away positions, and whatever’s going on with the new monsters that come out at night feels like more than enough to offer a very different, survival horror-infused take on the usual Marathon experience. And that was already super tense.

Bungie is promising “slightly fewer players and extra environmental challenges” on Night Marsh, and some of the new mechanics actually feel very Destiny 2 adjacent. In addition to flashlights, players will make use of Vector rounds that create pools of light where bullets land, Vector grenades which do the same for explosives, Darksight scopes which help you scout the area around you, and multi-colored Signal Flares that light up the surrounding area. It’s also important to note that Dire Marsh (Night) and Dire Marsh (Day) will be available at opposite times, rotating in and out every 90 minutes. The big objective will be unlocking the upper rooms of Complex Control to find rarer loot.

The new character is called Sentinel

This Runner shell is a defensive-minded one with a lot of versatility. Its Prime ability (ultimate) is called Defender System and generates a device that shoots incoming grenades and missiles out of the air and boosts the weapon handling of nearby allies. Its tactical ability is called Snare Mine and encases nearby enemies that trigger it in gunk, limiting their mobility. Castle Doctrine is the passive ability, which increases weapon handling when surrounded and increases resistance after taking splash damage. Finally, Prey Tracker is a trait ability that provides locations on nearby enemies.

The Cradle will completely overhaul Marathon‘s progression system

Instead of collecting specific materials to upgrade your runner stats and abilities, The Cradle is a system that lets you break down all the loot you find into matter that can be used to level up. These levels unlock energy points that can be used to grow specific stats. At various intervals, unique perks will be unlocked, but players can respec their stats at any time as they wish, with progress carrying over across any shell they use. On paper, at least, this seems way easier to understand than how season 1 handled things.

Marathon season 2 still has contracts and faction progress

While shell improvements have been moved to The Cradle, faction rank still matters for unlocking access to new gear in the shop. Not only will more stuff be offered in the armory this season, but faction progress will also be increased. Contracts will grant more faction rep and rank-ups will require fewer rare materials. Contract completion requirements themselves have also been streamlined a bit more.

Didn’t you say there are new weapons?

Yes. New season, new guns. The first is the rapid-fire KKV-9SD pistol-frame SMG with a built-in suppressor. It’s supposed to be good against shotguns and for taking out UESC units quietly. There’s also the new D54 Battle Pistol, a red-dot-sight, three-round-burst full-auto sidearm. It’s also built for close-range 1v1 duels.

A lot of things are being rebalanced

All of it’s aimed at making the sandbox more varied and fun, but it’ll take a bit of time to see how that all shakes out with the new content being added and the systems that are getting overhauled. The full overview of tweaks includes weapon nerfs, buffs, and big changes to how implants are structured.

I thought you said Marathon season 2 was adding a PvE-only mode?

It is, eventually. Bungie isn’t saying when exactly that will go live, but in the meantime Duos Queue will return as a permeant fixture rotating across different maps on a daily basis. Players will also get to try out something entirely new: Sponsored Survival. This is a PvP-lite mode that doesn’t start out that way. Players have to go in with Sponsored Kits and start off completely alone on the map, only facing NPCs. Teams have to survive a full 18 minutes to unlock the final exfil, but enemy Rook players are slowly added to the map. The only way to win is to survive until the end.

Bungie is promising other improvements as well

Those include increased Vault space, the ability to batch-select Vault items (finally!), a loot filter, and a streamlined lobby UI. The studio also says tech improvements mean fewer disconnections this season, increased security features, and better performance on PC.

But seriously, is Marathon actually worth playing?

Absolutely. It’s one of the best games of 2026 and certainly one of the best multiplayer first-person shooters in a minute.