Bungie is launching a free one-week preview of Marathon starting June 2, giving new players full access to the game ahead of its second season. The event runs through June 9 on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, with all progress carrying over if players choose to purchase the full game. This open play week coincides with major updates, including a reset of all players’ inventories, ensuring a level playing field at the start of the new season.

Season two introduces the Sentinel class, a defensive specialist equipped with a point-defense drone and motion-tracking ability, inspired by Bungie’s Halo series. The Dire Marsh map is being reimagined as a slower, survival-horror-style zone with environmental challenges and reduced player density. This shift leans into the game’s cosmic horror influences and offers a distinct pace from the original Day Marsh.

A new progression system called the Cradle allows players to convert excess gear into experience for stat upgrades and perks, independent of the faction-based upgrade path. This aims to reduce grind and encourage experimentation, as builds can be adjusted at any time. The changes come amid broader studio shifts, including the end of Destiny 2 development and reported plans for layoffs at Bungie under Sony, making a successful launch critical for momentum.