Summary
- Enter the world of Marathon’s Tau Ceti IV, a planet full of rival Runners and hazardous environments.
- Scavenge for valuables, experiment with different gear, and build uneasy alliances.
- Marathon is available today via the Microsoft Store on Xbox Series X|S.
Starting today on Xbox Series X|S, you can begin scavenging the planet of Tau Ceti IV as a cybernetic mercenary in the new survival extraction shooter, Marathon.
From Bungie, the makers of Halo and Destiny, Marathon places you the shoes of a Runner where you can crew up, run solo, or make uneasy alliances as you battle enemy players, collect powerful loot, and experience Bungie’s signature gunplay.
Your goal is to exfil to advance your seasonal power, advance your contracts for rival faction groups, and assemble stronger builds with your stolen loot. Then put your gear back on the line to seek even greater fortunes in your next run. The ultimate challenge? The derelict Marathon ship hanging in orbit above, promising the best loot and answers to world’s mysteries… if you can survive.
Ready to touchdown on Tau Ceti? Use these tips to get ahead:
- They Can Hear You
Everything makes noise. Moving, looting, activating exfils, opening doors, using items, healing, swapping weapons, and of course shooting things. If you think you got killed out of nowhere, someone probably found you through the noise you were making.
- …But You Can Hear Them
Keep your ears open. You can often hear threats—or targets—before you see them.
- Come Prepared
Bring plenty of ammo and healing items; you aren’t going to find a lot of it mid-run. And remember: A better weapon is only an upgrade if you have bullets to shoot.
- Plan Your Exit
All the gear you’ve collected is lost if you don’t make it out alive. Check your map for active exfils — they’re your ticket off Tau Ceti with your hard-earned loot.
- Fight or Flee?
The best Runners know when to take the shot and when to walk away. You don’t need to shoot everything you see. Whether it’s a UESC combatant, wild fauna, or a rival Runner crew, use the information you’ve got before you pull the trigger.
- Down on Your Luck? Play as Rook
If you’re low on supplies, head on a scavenger run as Rook. You’ll drop into a match in-progress as a solo player. Sneak by enemy UESC units with your camouflage ability, then make it alive with your scavenged goods to replenish your gear and credits.
- Progress Your Contracts and Unlock Bonus Stats
You can hover over contracts on the map for information on how to find their objectives. But if you’re still learning, don’t rush them right away — playing slow can help you get your bearings and avoid conflicts with rival crews until you’re ready.
- Built for Success
Experiment with different Runner shells, body implants, and weapons — you can freely swap weapons, implants, and weapon mods both in and out of game. And something is always better than nothing, so if you’ve got an empty slot, slam whatever you find.
- Uneasy Allies
Build alliances with the Runner crews, solo players, and Rooks you meet on your runs. Just don’t let your guard down — you never know when your new friends might turn their sights on you.
- Loot is a Means to an End
Gear comes and goes. Don’t be too precious about it. Learn to use what you’ve got, and it will help you reach greater heights.
Runners are deploying now. Take your new knowledge and use it to get ahead of your opponents on your first runs in Marathon, available today on Xbox Series X|S. Tau Ceti awaits.
Marathon Deluxe Edition
Bungie
Exfil to advance your seasonal power, earn cosmetics for your achievements, and assemble stronger builds with your stolen loot. Then put your gear back on the line to seek even greater fortunes in your next run.
Purchase to receive additional bonuses:
1x Premium Rewards Pass Voucher
200 SILK Rewards Pass Tokens
Weapon Cosmetic – MIDNIGHT DECAY [Misriah 2442 Pump Shotgun Style]
Weapon Cosmetic – MIDNIGHT DECAY [Overrun AR Style]
Runner Cosmetic – MIDNIGHT DECAY [Vandal Shell Style]
Runner Cosmetic – MIDNIGHT DECAY [Destroyer Shell Style]
Runner Cosmetic – MIDNIGHT DECAY [Assassin Shell Style]
Runner Cosmetic – MIDNIGHT DECAY [Thief Shell Style]
Purchase Marathon and receive the following:
ZERO STEP 004 CE Tactical Sidearm Style
ZERO STEP RC Weapon Charm
ZERO STEP SHIFT Weapon Sticker
APOGEE INTERCEPT Background
APOGEE INTERCEPT Emblem
Plus the following Destiny 2 rewards linked to your Bungie.net account:
UESC Echo-type Shell Exotic Ghost
UESC Rover Exotic Ship
UESC Sprinter Exotic Sparrow
Hard drive storage requirements are subject to change. Requires broadband internet.
Access requires an Xbox Game Pass subscription (sold separately).
Marathon may contain flashing patterns and images that may produce adverse effects for a small percentage of people sensitive to them.
Bungie, Inc. makes no guarantee regarding the availability of online play or features and may modify or discontinue online services with reasonable notice at any time.
Using the software constitutes acceptance of the Software License Agreement available at www.bungie.net/sla.
© 2026 Bungie, Inc. All rights reserved. Marathon, the Marathon Logo, Bungie and the Bungie Logo are trademarks of Bungie, Inc. Published and distributed by Bungie, Inc.
Marathon Standard Edition
Bungie
Exfil to advance your seasonal power, earn cosmetics for your achievements, and assemble stronger builds with your stolen loot. Then put your gear back on the line to seek even greater fortunes in your next run.
A GRAVEYARD OF POSSIBILITIES
Trespass across deserted research facilities, rugged landscapes, and security outposts holding the remnants of a vanished expedition, yours to salvage. Tau Ceti threatens death at every turn with unique enemies, dynamic events, and environmental hazards. Each zone escalates in difficulty, preparing you for the UESC Marathon locked in the heavens.
POWERFUL. CONFIGURABLE. EXPENDABLE.
Six equippable Runner shells offer diverse playstyle foundations to build upon, like Destroyer, Recon, and Thief. Scavenge an arsenal of moddable weapons, body implants, and core system upgrades to craft countless builds. Strategize as a crew each run to form comps that maximize your combined strengths, shaping the way you approach fights and objectives.
ENEMIES EVERYWHERE
Face the unknown as a crew of two or three, or alone in solo lobbies. Or sneak into in-progress crew lobbies as Rook, a lone scavenger with no starting gear and nothing to lose. Forge uneasy alliances with rival Runners in prox chat to defeat mutual foes, but remember your new allies might revert to enemies just as quickly. Be merciless in combat: A lone survivor can reboot their crew, even from death.
Later in Season 1, compete in Rated mode to measure your skill and build a name for yourself.
INFLUENCE IS POWER
Liaise with six competing factions, each offering lucrative incentives to advance their foothold on Tau Ceti. Completing faction contracts grows your baseline power via season-long unlocks like Runner shell upgrades, stronger starting loadouts, expanded vault space, and specialized wares on offer for spare loot.
DEFRAGMENT THE TRUTH
No one knows what happened a century ago when the Marathon expedition went dark. As a trespasser into UESC territory, you are uniquely positioned to piece the story together. Unearth the skeletons of Tau Ceti’s past as you run deeper into the colony.
DEATH HANGS ABOVE
Once the way into orbit unlocks, bring your endgame build to Cryo Archive, the first floor of the UESC Marathon. Solve raid-like security measures to unseal frozen vaults and pillage the artifacts within. Every cramped corridor forces you into conflict with fully-geared enemy crews racing for the same prize. Breach the seventh vault to challenge an entity even the UESC fears.
Pre-order Marathon and receive the following:
ZERO STEP 004 [CE Tactical Sidearm Style]
ZERO STEP RC [Weapon Charm]
ZERO STEP SHIFT [Weapon Sticker]
APOGEE INTERCEPT [Background]
APOGEE INTERCEPT [Emblem]
Plus the following Destiny 2 rewards linked to your Bungie.net account:
UESC Echo-type Shell Exotic Ghost
UESC Rover Exotic Ship
UESC Sprinter Exotic Sparrow
Hard drive storage requirements are subject to change. Requires broadband internet.
Access requires an Xbox Game Pass subscription (sold separately).
Marathon may contain flashing patterns and images that may produce adverse effects for a small percentage of people sensitive to them.
Bungie, Inc. makes no guarantee regarding the availability of online play or features and may modify or discontinue online services with reasonable notice at any time.
Using the software constitutes acceptance of the Software License Agreement available at www.bungie.net/sla.
© 2026 Bungie, Inc. All rights reserved. Marathon, the Marathon Logo, Bungie and the Bungie Logo are trademarks of Bungie, Inc. Published and distributed by Bungie, Inc.
The post 10 Tips To Help You Survive Your First Runs in Marathon, Available Today on Xbox Series X|S appeared first on Xbox Wire.
