Marathon Free Open-Beta Weekend: How to Access the Demo

Marathon
Feliciano Mondigo III
By Feliciano Mondigo IIIStaff Writer

Marathon
  • Primary Subject: Marathon – Free Play Weekend (Pre-Launch Demo)
  • Key Update: Bungie will offer a free pre-launch weekend for Marathon, likely the weekend before its March 5, 2026, release.
  • Status: Confirmed
  • Last Verified: January 21, 2026
  • Quick Answer: Marathon’s free open-beta weekend will let players try Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter before its March 5 release.

Marathon’s release date has officially been revealed by Bungie after an accidental leak from the Xbox store. As it sets its sights for a March 5, 2026 release, players are excited to try out. 

Thankfully, Bungie is kind enough to offer a free weekend where players can play Marathon at no extra cost. 

Marathon Free-Open Beta Release

Marathon Trio Squad Screenshot
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Credit: Bungie

Bungie hasn’t explicitly confirmed a release date when players can play the free pre-launch demo, but according to one of their Twitter responses, they mentioned that they plan to release it on the weekend before its March 5, 2026 launch. 

This could likely mean that players should expect the free demo to drop sometime in either weekends, February 21-22 or February 28 to March 1.

How to Join Marathon’s Free Open Beta

Marathon Screenshot Runners
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Credit: Bungie

To access Marathon’s free open beta, players will only need to download the demo client when Bungie releases it sometime next month. 

Keep in mind that, unlike Marathon’s previous betas locked behind invites, the upcoming demo is free. Players would only need to access it when it becomes available on PlayStation Store, Steam, and Xbox Store. 

While Bungie has not stated an exact date, players can wishlist or pre-order the game if they don’t want to miss out on notifications such as pre-loading the game.

What to Expect from Marathon’s Free Open-Beta Weekend

Marathon Triage
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Credit: Bungie

The safest assumption is that players can access the game’s onboarding tutorial, teaching them the basics of how Marathon’s extraction shooter formula works and its first-person shooter gameplay.

  • Runner shells, like Assassin and Vandal, might also be part of the playable classes players can select in the demo. It remains unknown whether the other shells, the Destroyer and Triage, will be available during the period or if players will have to unlock them.
  • Similar to the closed beta, players can also expect to play Marathon’s first set of maps, especially Dire Marsh, a dense marshland in Tau Ceti IV that was initially teased on Marathon’s reveal announcement. To add to that, players could also play the other confirmed maps, like Perimeter and Outpost. 
  • As for the UESC Marathon map, players might have to wait days after its release to gain access to one of its endgame areas.

This is a developing piece that will be updated as more information about Marathon’s maps becomes available. 

For more Marathon coverage, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com.