- Primary Subject: Marathon (v1.0 Launch / Pre-Release)
- Key Update: Bungie has officially confirmed a March 5, 2026, release date alongside a new gameplay trailer and pre-order details.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: January 23, 2026
- Quick Answer: Marathon launches March 5, 2026, as a PvPvE extraction shooter. Focus on audio cues, squad composition (six classes), and survival over kills to secure loot.
Marathon hype is at an all-time high, and for good reason. The sequel, 30 years in the making, has reactivated a forgotten fandom that had relied on similar Bungie titles to satisfy their sci-fi needs.
Despite the genre shift from single-player shooter to multiplayer extraction, a considerable influx of players is expected on release day, both new space cadets and returning Marines.
Besides public testing during alpha and beta, Tau Ceti IV will be an even playing ground for most Runner Shells, but some heads up wouldn’t hurt. If you’re looking to loot the host for the most, look no further, as here are beginner tips for the Marathon reboot newbies:
1. Keep It 100 on the Land, the Sea, the Space
Marathon requires 100% of your focus, so don't think you can pull off a Spotify-on-the-background type of gameplay sesh. Use headphones to listen carefully to audio cues while prioritizing survival over flashy kills. The goal is to make it to the end with loot, not get a victory royale.
In space pirate spirit, keep your guns loaded, guard up, and back unturned – prioritizing patch kits, decontamination stations, and ammo management while away from the action. If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready, especially with high stakes like losing all your loot if a shootout goes south.
If the tension gets too high for you, try loading into a session without picking a fight. Let the starting and ceasing of fire guide your looting away from harm’s way, and wait until you hear an extraction to initiate your own. The distraction game will be huge to escape with the space booty. Argh!
2. Pick Your Galactic Battles Wisely
It’s important to remember that the original Marathon trilogy involved the player saving the world in a galactic war on multiple CPU fronts. This time, the game goes from solo to multi in the flick of an alien wrist, combining the best worst of both worlds.
Tau Ceti IV will be populated by both players and AI-controlled enemies, rotating points of interest, letting you make the call whether to engage, retreat, or third-party ongoing shootouts. This PvPvE treatment poses a threat to all users, especially when extraction, the ultimate task to finish the looting session, alerts the vicinity for a limited amount of time, alerting any and all nearby parties.
Conflict can be as scarce or as abundant as you’d like it to be, with sessions able to go without a single confrontation and backpackfulls of loot heading back to the main menu. Returning to base with as many goodies as possible is the name of the game, so do not underestimate the power of squirming out of a pickle if need be.
3. Know Your Runner = Extract The Loot
My old high school teacher used to say I was showing up to war without ammo whenever I came to class without a pencil. Something similar can be said about landing in Tau Ceti IV without really knowing why you’re choosing your Runner Shell.
Beyond aesthetics, Runners have distinct abilities that will balance or destabilize a squad depending on the formation. Currently, Runner Shells come in six different classes:
- Destroyer
- Assassin
- Recon
- Vandal
- Thief
- Triage
And as players expect this group to expand post-release, it’s best you get used to them before the power system gets out of hand. Currently, each Runner has a Prime Ability, a Tactical Ability, and two Traits in their skill set.
A balanced crew will try to put together a team that can sustain the 25-minute session without getting wrecked within every encounter. While every combination is welcome by the devs, keeping it steady on all fronts is vital to survival.
Combine a Destroyer, Recon, and Triage to withstand as many encounters as a unit or evade conflict with an Assassin and Vandal one-two punch for sneaky looting. Remember, team size is capped at three members, but lobbies accept parties of one, two, or three players, so mix and match accordingly.
Regardless of how much you read up on it, there’s no better teacher than taking some shots to your worm-riddled Runner body to learn a lesson or two. Only then will you be worthy of your first extraction. You know, your money’s worth of noobing. Pre-orders don’t come with skills, son.
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