Marathon Developer Attempts To Calm Fears About Game’s Price

A $40 shooter from Bungie? Sounds great—until you dig into the details. It looks like we’ve been traumatized by game prices in recent years, so Marathon’s price is leaving us skeptical (what’s the catch, Bungie devs?)

Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter has fans hyped, confused, and a little concerned. Announced as a premium title but not at the usual $70 price point, Marathon is reportedly launching at $40—a move that seems generous in today’s AAA climate. But here’s the catch: it might still come with the same monetization baggage players have learned to side-eye.

Bungie Sets a Different Price Point

Marathon will be a premium title. Marathon will not be a ‘full-priced’ title.

We’ll announce details this Summer.

— Marathon (@MarathonTheGame) April 12, 2025

According to recent reports, Marathon will drop with a lower upfront cost compared to other big-name titles like Call of Duty or Destiny 2. Priced at $40, it aligns more with the recent trend seen in Helldivers 2 and Concord—games that offer tight multiplayer experiences without the $70 sticker shock.

So far, so good.

But longtime Bungie fans are raising eyebrows. The worry? That $40 could just be the entry fee for a game packed with microtransactions, battle passes, and cosmetics—what some are calling a “Destiny 2 situation all over again.”

Will Players Get Their Money’s Worth?

A recent post on X (Twitter) was posted to ease concerns, promising that the game will deliver “a full premium experience” and enough content at launch to justify the price tag. Bungie claims they’re focused on value, not just charging less, but providing a rich experience to match.

Still, many players are waiting for more than promises. They want clarity on what kind of monetization systems will be layered on top of the base game, and whether that $40 is truly a deal or just a foot in the door.

What Happens Next?

Bungie is expected to reveal more about Marathon this summer, including gameplay updates and possibly a deeper dive into how content and progression will work. Until then, fans are cautiously optimistic—with some ready to throw money at it, and others keeping their wallets zipped until they know for sure what they’re paying for.

$40 sounds nice, but if it comes with $60 worth of FOMO passes and cosmetic bundles, players might not be so forgiving.