Marathon Is Going Free for One Week, and Bungie Needs It Badly
Bungie announced Marathon Season 2 and a free Open Play Week on Steam on 28 May 2026, letting PC players try the extraction shooter from 2 June to 9 June.
On 28 May 2026, Bungie framed Marathon Season 2 as more than a content drop through the official Marathon X post and the Steam announcement. The early post-launch shooter still lists at 39,99€ on Steam, so the free 2 June to 9 June window becomes a try-first trust test.
AKS Score (users)
84/100
51.8K reviews
Scavenge the lost colony of Tau Ceti IV as a bio-cybernetic Runner in a PvPvE survival extraction FPS from the creators of Halo and Destiny. Compare Marathon deals
Released
Mar 5, 2026
Developer
Bungie
Publisher
Bungie
Available on
PC · Xbox Series · PS5
Tags
Action
Steam CD-key, own it forever
Steam Account, try it cheaper
Marathon is not going free forever. Bungie is opening a limited Steam access window around Season 2, which means the real offer is time with the live build, not a permanent giveaway.
That distinction matters because the conversation around Marathon has never been only about content. It is also about whether PC players believe Bungie can turn a rough launch into a game worth returning to, buying, or simply watching from a distance.
Season 2 Turns Marathon Into a Public Trust Test
The official Season 2 push gives Marathon the cleanest reset without pretending the past few months did not happen. Bungie is putting the game in front of Steam players for one week, then asking the community to judge the current build on movement, tension, matchmaking, and reward pacing.
The timing also follows a rougher conversation around the game and its studio. Our previous Marathon and Bungie protest angle showed how easily Steam sentiment can become bigger than one game, which is why this free week has to feel useful rather than cosmetic.
Why a Free Week Matters More Than Patch Notes
A generic patch notes recap would miss the point. Players who were unsure about Marathon do not need another list of seasonal beats first. They need to know whether the extraction loop feels clearer, fairer, and less risky when they are actually inside a match. Links to the Marathon price page where they can see all offers live.
That is why the Open Play Week is the key part of the announcement. It lowers the barrier at the exact moment Bungie needs real impressions from people who did not already decide to defend the game or bury it.
Try Marathon First, Then Look at the Market
Steam still lists Marathon at 39,99€, while the current AKS snapshot puts CD-key offers around €22.28, Steam Account offers around €15.72, and official store offers around €33.99 across 58 offers. Those numbers are useful, but only after the free week answers the gameplay question.
If the trial works for you, the Marathon price comparison page can help separate a normal CD-key from a cheaper Steam Account route. A CD-key activates on your own Steam profile, while a Steam Account is an alternative buying format with its own trade-offs.
Bungie Gets a Second Chance, Not a Free Pass
The Season 2 Cinematic Trailer news gives Bungie a sharper presentation beat, but presentation is not the same as trust. Marathon needs the free window to make its systems readable, its matches sticky, and its value easier to defend.
The best outcome for Bungie is not instant forgiveness. It is curiosity that survives the week, enough for players to check prices, compare formats, and decide whether Marathon has earned a place in their library after they have played it themselves. The price page is where the real decision happens, and it is already worth checking.
Competitive gaming veteran and Infographics Creator at AllKeyShop, Lionel 'Gen' Bernard made his name in the early days of esports as a professional Unreal Tournament player, competing at the highest level when competitive FPS was still in its infancy. Founder of AllKeyShop, he now brings his competitive DNA to data-driven visual storytelling, producing original infographics and editorial content. His work maps the global gaming landscape through the lens of someone who's lived it from both sides: the arena and the industry.
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