Ever since Bungie officially revealed its upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, one of the hottest topics in the gaming community has been its potential price point. Now, a new report from Forbes seems to confirm what many had speculated: Marathon will launch at a $40 price tag.
In an Era of $70 Games, Marathon Stands Apart
This price point comes as a surprise, especially considering that most major AAA titles these days are launching at $70 or higher. Many fans expected Marathon to go the free-to-play route, relying on in-game transactions for revenue — a common model in the live service genre. However, Bungie appears to have chosen a different path.
Forbes Report Confirms Pricing Model
According to Paul Tassi, a well-known writer at Forbes, Bungie has settled on a $40 launch price, similar to what we saw with the successful launch of Helldivers 2. He also notes that Bungie is too far along in development to suddenly switch to a free-to-play model.
Paid Game, But With In-Game Purchases
While Marathon will not be free, it will still follow the hybrid live-service model — meaning it will include microtransactions for cosmetic or progression-related content. This combination has sparked mixed reactions: some players are concerned it could lead to a less enjoyable experience, while others say it’s fair — as long as the content lives up to expectations.
NDA Lifted for the Alpha Test
In another interesting move, Bungie has officially lifted the NDA (non-disclosure agreement) for the closed alpha version of Marathon. This bold step aims to build trust with the community and offer more transparency into the game’s development process. Players are now free to share their impressions, footage, and feedback.
A Middle Ground Between Free and Full-Price
With the $40 price tag now nearly confirmed, it seems Bungie is aiming for a middle-ground strategy — neither fully free-to-play nor as expensive as most AAA games. If Marathon delivers on gameplay quality and post-launch support, this price point could be a key factor in its commercial success.
