With Marathon launching on March 5, Bungie has shared a detailed look at how the game will grow post-launch and the plan is to keep new content free for everyone, at least for now. Each season will run for around three months and bring new gameplay, gear, Runner shells, zones, and events. Bungie says these updates will change how players master survival, build power, and progress through the game over time.

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— Marathon (@MarathonTheGame) March 3, 2026

At launch, players will eventually unlock Cryo Archive, the game’s fourth zone. It’s described as an end-game area with puzzles and vaults to crack open. Later in the second half of March, a Ranked mode will go live, giving players a way to chase higher-value loot rewards. Bungie has already given a peek at what Season 2, called Nightfall, will bring. The story framing sets up a response from the UESC, who are reacting to players’ criminal activities on the lost colony by increasing their security presence.

On the content side, Nightfall will add a nighttime version of Dire Marsh, a new Runner shell, new weapons, mods, cores, and contracts. It will also introduce a new system called the Cradle, which is designed to give players more control over their Runner shell’s statistical strengths and weaknesses. One of the bigger things Bungie confirmed is that each new season comes with a full reset. Gear, contract progression, faction progression, and player level will all be wiped clean at the start of every season.

Bungie confirmed that Marathon will not have pay-to-win mechanics, and that seasonal content will be free. The studio also noted it will be tuning loot and progression systems each season to open up new ways to play and fresh metas.