Marathon launches on March 5th — and before that, the free weekend on February 26th will put everything to the test. But right now, there are still serious questions hanging over this game. About wipes. About monetization. About Ranked. Today I’m looking at the most important questions Bungie need to answer before Marathon launches.

Before we dive into the questions, I’m going to add my commentary to the questions as we go. I don’t have any inside information, I’ll be pulling from offical information where possible to try and fill in the blanks where possible.

Without further delay, let’s dive in.

How viable is solo play?

Solo play will almost certainly be viable, but inherently more difficult than squad play. Extraction design naturally rewards coordination and information sharing. As a solo player you can load into a match with 2 other matchmade players, and you can start talking to them or using non-verbal communication like pings. Loading in solo as any runner is viable, you may get taken out by a team on comms, but that isn’t guaranteed and you shouldn’t be scared off. Rook is also a viable option for solo players, although this prototype runner shell seems to be about scavenging loot rather than going in to be competitive. TLDR, solo play will be just fine.

How much content is there at launch?

Expect a focused but not massive content pool at launch — likely 4 maps (Perimeter, Dire Marsh, Outpost, UESC Marathon or ‘Cryo’). Personally, I think these maps will be just fine for launch, and I wouuld expect new maps to come in future seasons. Keep expectations in check for new maps, as I imagine they take the MOST amount of time to develop in a game like this, so my estimate wouuld be season 3 or 4.

The success of launch content will depend on variability within missions and loot pools rather than raw quantity. Perception in the first month will hinge on replayability.

How punishing is death?

Death will meaningful consequences, including loss of gear brought into a run. However, death is a mjaor part of an Extraction shooter. Expect to die a LOT. Expect tension and real stakes, but with systems in place that allow rebuilding within a reasonable time frame. The goal will likely be stress — not exhaustion.

Is Ranked Mode the core experience?

Ranked appears positioned as a competitive pillar rather than the onboarding experience. Bungie understands that broad accessibility is needed for population health, so standard modes will likely anchor early play. Ranked will probably serve as aspirational endgame for highly competitive players. Over time, it may dominate discourse — but ranked is where many players will aim for, it won’t beb the starting point for many players.

What is the true endgame loop?

The endgame will likely revolve around optimized runs, faction progression, higher-risk zones (like Cryo on the Marathon Ship), and evolving seasonal objectives. Seasonal updates will likely refresh loot, objectives, and map dynamics. Cryo is the likely first destination for ‘end game’ then ‘ranked’ is your next desination, plus top-tier gold loot.

Will there be a “Day 1 raid-style” moment?

There is no indication of a traditional raid, but Bungie understands the power of launch spectacle. It is plausible that a global objective, competitive leaderboard race, or hidden world-state trigger is planned. Extraction games thrive on emergent competition, and Bungie may lean into that. World’s first to extract from Cryo may be a possibility, however, I would expect live-service style world events to take place.

Will there be major launch events?

A limited-time launch event is highly likely, either formally announced or hidden. Bungie historically layers events into major releases to drive engagement. ARGs have been a popular way to generatte buzz throughout the build up to the alpha and playtests, although we haven’t seen or heard of any ARG news recently. For launch expect loads of streamers to be paid to play Marathon tto generate buzz around March 5th, and it will be interesting to see who is playing weeks later.

What does Year 1 look like?

Year 1 will almost certainly follow a seasonal model with structured updates every few months (Joe Zeigler recently said in an interview seasons would be approx 3 months). Expect new loot rotations, evolving narrative threads, and possibly new maps or major mechanical shifts. Whether there is a paid expansion within the first year remains unclear, but additional premium content is plausible (but not confirmed).

Will maps evolve over time?

Map evolution is very likely. Bungie is great at environmental storytelling and incremental world changes. Seasonal shifts, new hazards, or altered extraction points would work well with a game like this. Static maps would undercut long-term engagement, so some degree of change seems probable. It’s worth noting Bungie hasn’t confirmed this.

How does long-term progression work?

Long-term progression will likely focus on account-level unlocks. Expect faction systems, base upgrades, or passive perks that persist beyond individual runs. Bungie tends to preserve a sense of player identity over time. I could see some or all of this progress gettinng wiped at the end of the season. Wipes are one of the biggest topics Bungie needs to go into before launch.

How punishing is the economy?

Early scarcity is probably intentional to create pressure. Consumable pricing may feel tight to encourage risk assessment and decision-making. Bungie historically adjusts economy tuning quickly based on data. Expect refinement post-launch if frustration outweighs tension. In the recent Chinese playtests players did give feedback saying the economy was pretty punishing, but I think we’re going to have to see how the game launches and then expect Bungie to adjust in the live environment.

How will seasonal resets and wipes work?

A hybrid approach is most likely. Gear and loot pools may reset each season to refresh balance and economy. Core progression systems — cosmetics, faction standing, account upgrades — will probably persist. This balances extraction integrity with player investment protection. Seaonsal wipes are a big topic for Bungie to answer before launch.

Will there be full gear wipes?

Full seasonal gear wipes are probable. Total account wipes are unlikely. Bungie will likely separate volatile systems (loot economy) from persistent identity systems. That structure would make sense with both extraction-shooter expectations and Bungie’s player-retention philosophy.

What progression carries over?

Cosmetics will carry over. Faction rank or base upgrades likely persist as well. Bungie understands that long-term player identity must feel protected. Seasonal resets will probably target items, not personal progression.

How does Bungie prevent inflation if no wipes?

If wipes are partial, inflation can be controlled through seasonal gear caps, loot rotations, and power ceilings. Bungie has experience managing gear lifecycles. Rotating item pools and introducing new tiers can refresh the economy without deleting identity.

Will we get fully customizable Runners?

Customization will likely be structured. Expect cosmetics and mods within predefined Runner archetypes. Bungie prioritizes visual clarity in PvP, so total silhouette freedom is unlikely. Personal identity will exist — within set boundaries.

How deep is visual identity?

Visual identity will probably emphasize silhouette readability first, customization second. Competitive PVP requires players to recognize archetypes quickly. Cosmetic depth will likely be cosmetic-first rather than gameplay-altering. Expect layered armor, skins, and color systems.

Are Runners fixed or flexible?

Runners appear to function as archetypes with build customization inside them. This preserves the competitive nature while allowing player expression. Expect variation in perks and gear rather than complete class fluidity.

How deeply is classic Marathon lore integrated?

Classic lore will likely serve as foundation rather than prerequisite knowledge. Bungie appears to be reinterpreting core themes rather than continuing a direct timeline. Familiar names and ideas may appear in modernized form. Accessibility for new players will take priority. There is a huge voice cast of world-class voice actors… Personally, I am very excited for the lore.

Who is Durandal here?

Durandal will likely be there, possibly reimagined. Bungie understands the significance of that AI. Whether Durandal appears explicitly remains to be seen. Legacy influence seems almost certain. My early bet is Ben Starr will voice Durandel, so I expect him to turn up in the game as part of Season 1 or perhaps a cliffhanger to Season 1’s narrative.

How is story delivered?

Environmental storytelling, terminals, and seasonal narrative drops are the most likely structure. Bungie has historically layered lore into discoverable fragments. Cinematics probably exist, but mystery and player discovery will likely dominate delivery.

Are servers ready?

The free weekend exists to validate scale. Bungie has significant backend experience, but global launch pressure always tests infrastructure. Stability during the preview will be a key indicator of readiness. Launch congestion remains possible. We’ll see on Feb 26th, that’s when the free open weekend begins. I am expecting 200k players at least.

How will Bungie measure success from the free weekend?

They will likely track concurrency, retention between sessions, crash frequency, and matchmaking speed. Engagement depth matters more than peak players alone. Player return rates will be especially important. It’ll be interesting to see th eplayer count on day 1 vs day 5.

How strong is anti-cheat?

Anti-cheat must be aggressive from day one in an extraction shooter. Bungie is aware that trust evaporates quickly in high-stakes environments. Initial systems will likely be strong, with iterative improvements post-launch. I think Bungie is usinng their BattleEye antticheat fromn Destiny 2, so let us all pray its up to it.

How does cross-play matchmaking work?

Input-based matchmaking is likely in competitive modes to protect fairness. Casual modes may blend pools more freely. Bungie has implemented similar logic before, so precedent exists. Bungie did come out and say recently console players could block PC players from matchmaking, so that’s good news.

Will competitive integrity be protected long-term?

It has to be. Extraction ecosystems collapse without trust. Expect ongoing tuning, balance patches, and anti-cheat updates as standard practice. Long-term support will be critical to survival.

Will Bungie charge yearly for expansions?

A yearly paid expansion model is plausible given Bungie’s history. However, extraction games sometimes rely more heavily on cosmetic monetization. A hybrid structure is possible. Clarity before launch would be good from Bungie.

Is monetization limited to cosmetics and passes?

At minimum, expect cosmetics and seasonal passes. Paid expansions remain possible. Pay-to-win mechanics are extremely unlikely due to competitive integrity concerns.

How much money do you need to fully enjoy the game?

Realistically, base game plus optional seasonal pass should provide the full intended experience. Cosmetic purchases should not gate gameplay. If enjoyment requires excessive spending, perception will turn quickly.

Is there pay-to-progress?

Highly unlikely. In a competitive extraction environment, pay-to-progress would severely damage credibility. Bungie cannot afford that perception. Expect monetization to remain cosmetic-focused.

What is the long-term financial commitment?

Likely base purchase plus optional seasonal passes and possibly annual expansions. Total yearly spend will depend on engagement level. Core gameplay should not require continuous additional purchases.

Will Marathon have secrets and ARG elements?

Very likely. Bungie has a long history of embedding mysteries, puzzles, and hidden lore into their worlds. Community-driven discovery fits naturally within this universe. Expect layered secrets over time.

Can we find Bingus the Cat?

Officially confirmed? No. But Bungie has historically embraced community memes and hidden nods. If the community rallies around Bingus, the odds of an Easter egg increase.

Those are the 35 biggest questions heading into Marathon’s launch.

The biggest topics I want answered before launch are:

• What do seasonal wipes look like?
• Are Bungie going to charge for yearly expansions?
• Is Season 1 included in with the launch game?

Drop your questions in the comments, because as we head into the free weekend on February 26th, that’s when we start getting real data. If you found this helpful, make sure you’re subscribed — because we’ll be breaking down everything Marathon related the moment it happens.