Bungie has laid out how Marathon seasons will function ahead of the game’s March 5 launch, and there are a few things worth knowing going in.
Seasons run approximately three months each. Every season brings a full progression reset: gear, contract progression, faction progression, and player level all go back to zero for everyone. Cosmetics, titles, achievements, and Codex progression carry over, as does liaison contract progression, so you are not unlocking factions from scratch every season. Everything else starts fresh.
Bungie’s reasoning is straightforward enough. Resets keep the game dangerous, make loot feel meaningful, and give returning or new players a genuine on-ramp without feeling hopelessly behind. Whether that philosophy lands with the playerbase long term remains to be seen, but at least they are being transparent about it upfront.
Season 1 is called DEATH IS THE FIRST STEP, or FIRST STEP for short. At launch you will have access to three zones, all six Runner shells including Thief, all six factions, including Sekiguchi Genetics, and 28 weapons with full mod and implant systems. A fourth zone called Cryo Archive, set aboard the derelict UESC Marathon ship in orbit, will unlock once the community collectively clears the path to get there. Ranked mode follows in the second half of March with its own ladder and exclusive rewards.
Season 2 is called NIGHTFALL. Bungie teased a nighttime version of Dire Marsh, new UESC enemy presence, a new Runner shell, and a new system called the Cradle that gives players more control over their Runner shell’s statistical strengths and weaknesses. The rest of the details are being held back for now.
All seasonal content updates — new zones, weapons, Runner shells, contracts, and gameplay systems — will be free for all players. No expansions or DLC required. There will be a premium rewards pass each season, but no details shared about it. I would assume cosmetic only, since new content itself is free for all players.
Marathon launches March 5 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
