Trending Now - Marathon Offers Free Week of Play on PS5 for Season 2 Launch

WHO:

Forbes - Aztecross, a prominent streamer and YouTuber, expressed extreme anger about the situation regarding Destiny 2 and stated he will no longer play the new Marathon season.

Kotaku - Bungie is the developer of the game Marathon.

Push Square - Bungie is also mentioned as the studio behind Marathon.

WHAT:

Eurogamer - Season 2 will introduce a new map called "Night" variant of the Dire Marsh, featuring blocked sight lines and darker environments.

Eurogamer - The new Sentinel shell will be introduced, designed for controlling space and defending areas, with a Defender System that destroys incoming grenades and missiles.

Eurogamer - Two new weapons, the KKV-9SD SMG and D54 Battle Pistol, will be added with Season 2, although their availability on launch day is unclear.

Eurogamer - The Cradle will be introduced as a new progression system, allowing players to empower their Runner shell stats across six categories and unlock powerful perks.

Eurogamer - The Duos queue will have a larger presence in Season 2, with Ranked play starting on June 14 and the Cryo Archive zone returning on June 11.

Kotaku - Bungie stated that the new trial period will allow players to access all maps and runner shells, which was not available during the previous beta.

Push Square - Season 2 will introduce a new map and shell (character class), along with various seasonal challenges.

Push Square - Character progression will be reset for all players at the start of Season 2.

Kotaku - Bungie stated that the new trial period will allow players to access all maps and runner shells, which was not available during the previous beta.

Kotaku - Bungie aims to improve engagement metrics such as retention through the introduction of additional content and gameplay experience enhancements.

Forbes - Aztecross expressed that he will use his platform to reinforce his dissatisfaction with the focus on Marathon over Destiny 2, stating, "I don’t care if I’m going to be petty about it the rest of the year."

Forbes - Aztecross mentioned he may turn down lucrative brand deals from Sony due to his dissatisfaction with the focus on Marathon over Destiny 2.

Forbes - Marathon reportedly cost at least $250 million to develop over the years.

Kotaku - During the Open Play Week, the full game will be available to play on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and any progress made will carry over into Season 2.

Push Square - The Marathon 'Open Play Week' does not require a PS Plus subscription to participate.

Push Square - Character progression has received a major overhaul, with increased faction progression speed, a larger Vault, and improvements to frustrating contracts.

Kotaku - Marathon will be free-to-play for one week during the launch of Season 2.

Push Square - The free-to-play period will last from June 2 to June 9.

Push Square - Season 2 will introduce a new map and shell (character class), along with various seasonal challenges.

Kotaku - The game had a peak of 80,000 concurrent players, which has now declined to around 10,000.

Push Square - Character progression will be reset for all players at the start of Season 2.

WHERE:

Kotaku - The game will be available on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Push Square - The free week is specifically available on Sony's current-gen console.

WHEN:

Kotaku - Season 2 begins on June 2.

Push Square - The free-to-play week runs from June 2 to June 9.

WHY:

Forbes - The decision to prioritize Marathon over Destiny 2 has led to significant frustration among Destiny 2 players, as they feel neglected in favor of the new title.

Forbes - Significant resources were reallocated from Destiny 2 to develop Marathon, leading to frustration among Destiny 2 players.

Kotaku - Bungie aims to improve player retention and engagement metrics through additional content and gameplay experience enhancements.

Kotaku - The free trial is intended to attract new players to the game, which has been struggling with player retention.

Push Square - Bungie aims to entice new players and improve the overall experience with various enhancements.

HOW:

TechRadar - Bungie is implementing a limited-time free trial for Marathon as part of the upcoming Season 2 release to address the dwindling player count.

Forbes - The decision to prioritize Marathon over Destiny 2 was made during a time when Destiny 2 was still bringing in more overall players than Marathon, which is only three months old.

Kotaku - Players need a paid subscription service to access online multiplayer on consoles, while PC players can access it for free.

Push Square - Improvements include increased faction progression speed, a larger Vault, and quality-of-life changes to enhance gameplay.

(UPDATED May 28, 2026 17:59 UTC)

In an exciting update for gamers, Season 2 will introduce a new map called "Night," a darker variant of the Dire Marsh that features blocked sight lines. Players can also look forward to the new Sentinel shell, designed for area control with a Defender System that neutralizes incoming grenades and missiles, alongside two new weapons, the KKV-9SD SMG and D54 Battle Pistol, although their launch availability remains uncertain. Additionally, a new progression system called The Cradle will empower players' Runner shell stats, and the Duos queue will be more prominent, with Ranked play kicking off on June 14 and the return of the Cryo Archive zone on June 11.

(UPDATED May 28, 2026 16:19 UTC)

Bungie has announced a limited-time free trial for Marathon, set to coincide with the upcoming Season 2 release, in an effort to boost player engagement. This new trial will give players access to all maps and runner shells, which were not available during the previous beta, and Season 2 will also introduce a new map, a new shell, and various seasonal challenges. Additionally, all players will experience a reset in character progression at the start of Season 2.

(UPDATED May 28, 2026 14:15 UTC)

Bungie has announced a limited-time free trial for Marathon, allowing players to access all maps and runner shells, which were not available during the previous beta. This move is part of their strategy to enhance player engagement and retention by introducing additional content and gameplay improvements. However, the decision to focus on Marathon has frustrated many Destiny 2 players, leading influencers like Aztecross to voice their dissatisfaction and commit to expressing their concerns throughout the year.

(UPDATED May 28, 2026 08:17 UTC)

Aztecross, a well-known streamer and YouTuber, has voiced his intense frustration with the current situation regarding Destiny 2, announcing that he will no longer participate in the new Marathon season. He also indicated that he might reject lucrative brand deals from Sony due to his dissatisfaction with the shift in focus from Destiny 2 to Marathon, which reportedly cost at least $250 million to develop. This decision to prioritize Marathon over Destiny 2 has upset many players, especially since Destiny 2 was still attracting more overall players than the newly launched Marathon, which is only three months old.

(UPDATED May 28, 2026 01:34 UTC)

During the upcoming Open Play Week, players will have the opportunity to experience the full game on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with all progress carrying over into Season 2. Notably, participation in this event will not require a PS Plus subscription, making it accessible to a wider audience. Bungie is implementing significant changes to character progression, including faster faction progression, a larger Vault, and improvements to contracts, all aimed at enhancing player retention and engagement.

(UPDATED May 27, 2026 23:26 UTC)

Bungie, the developer behind the game Marathon, has announced that the game will be free-to-play for one week during the launch of Season 2, which begins on June 2 and runs until June 9. This new season will introduce a fresh map, a new character class, and various seasonal challenges, while also resetting character progression for all players. The game will be available on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, with the free week specifically accessible on Sony's current-gen console, as Bungie aims to attract new players and improve the overall experience with enhancements like increased faction progression speed and a larger Vault.