Bungie’s highly anticipated extraction shooter, Marathon, had its gameplay unveiled on April 12, 2025. Known for their acclaimed franchises, Halo and Destiny, Bungie has poured significant effort into crafting this modern retro-style sci-fi shooter, showcasing considerable potential for success if the development team manages it wisely.
The game promises exciting features such as crossplay and cross-save capabilities, which could substantially elevate its appeal within the gaming community. However, concerns have emerged regarding the pricing strategy, which could turn out to be a misstep.
Pricing Expectations for Bungie’s Marathon
While Bungie has yet to officially announce the pricing structure for Marathon, it’s confirmed that this extraction shooter will be classified as a premium title, with anticipated costs ranging from $40 to $70. This decision to avoid a free-to-play (F2P) model could potentially cost the company in the long run, and there are several factors contributing to this perspective.
Having set benchmarks in the gaming industry with Halo and Destiny, Marathon appears promising. However, we believe that developers may be overlooking some important market dynamics. In a landscape saturated with various genres, Marathon seems to merge elements of hero-shooters, battle royale, and extraction shooters into one package.
Entering one of the most competitive segments of the gaming market, Bungie faces fierce rivals such as Marvel Rivals, Warzone, Apex Legends, Fortnite, and Delta Force, all of which have successfully employed a free-to-play model.
If Bungie commits to a premium pricing strategy—especially with potential microtransactions reminiscent of those seen in Destiny, including Battle Passes and cosmetics—many players may question the fairness of such a pricing model. Can they justify spending $40 to $70 on a title that might also push for additional in-game purchases?
Despite our reservations, we are hopeful that Bungie can make a significant impression in this space. Fans are eager for the company to deliver something revolutionary, rekindling the excitement of tactical FPS gameplay.
However, should Bungie choose to maintain Marathon’s status as a ‘premium’ title, it will be essential for them to provide ample content and make critical adjustments. Players will need to feel that their investment of hard-earned money translates into a rewarding and worthwhile experience.