"Marathon Will Not Be A Full-Priced Title": Bungie Responds To Marathon Pricing Concerns Following Gameplay Showcase

Summary

• On Saturday, Marathon finally received its big gameplay reveal, along with its release date of September 23.
• Following its reveal, Bungie has confirmed that Marathon will be a "premium" title, though it won't be a "full-priced" game.
• In the past, multiplayer-only titles have ranged from modest $39.99 pricepoints to full $59.99 levels, meaning the game can settle anywhere in between.

After months of waiting, with some leaks interspaced in between, Marathon has finally had its big gameplay reveal. The upcoming PvP-focused extraction shooter from Bungie will now launch on September 23, and it won't be too long before players can try it out for themselves, as its Closed Alpha test has been given an April 23 start date.

That said, immediately following Saturday's livestream, there was some concern over just how much the multiplayer-focused title would cost. To that end, Bungie has come out to clarify its pricing strategy for Marathon.

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What Does "Premium" But Not "Full-Priced" Mean?

Taking to Twitter, the official Marathon account quickly dispelled any rumors that its title would be "full-priced," e.g. $69.99.

It will, however, be a "premium" title, whatever that means, with details surrounding its price to be revealed later this summer. According to a feature from GameSpot, the game will feature a Battle Pass and three maps at launch, with a fourth that will be released shortly after launch.

Beyond its PvP gameplay, there will be a story, though it's being described as "vague," as well as a character progression system for players to sink their teeth into.

Previous Multiplayer-Only Titles Have Varied In Price

Historically speaking, not every multiplayer-only title has launched at full price. For example, last year's breakout hit, Helldivers 2, launched at a modest $39.99, as did the now-canceled Concord.

At the same time, however, other titles have launched at higher price points. Battlefield 2042 launched at full-price, and famously was missing key multiplayer features, such as a scoreboard. Elsewhere, Ubisoft's For Honor also launched at full-price, though it eventually received a pared-down "Starter Edition" down the line.

All that is to say that while Marathon likely won't be $69.99, history does suggest it'll still be a pretty pricey title, likely settling in somewhere in between. Only time will tell if Bungie is able to justify that price.

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