The core gameplay loop of Marathon is amassing a bunch of loot, either solo or with friends, and then seeing how far you can push your luck, either against the UESC or other teams. However, the overarching seasonal loop will rely on completing Contracts for each of the six Factions, and ideally unraveling the mystery of Tau Ceti IV.
To that end, there are Rewards Passes, and in keeping with titles like Helldivers 2 and Marvel Rivals, they won’t expire. You can even purchase previous seasons’ passes. Unlocking its contents requires spending SILK, and it can only be obtained through gameplay (though the Deluxe Edition also includes some as a bonus). Instead, you can buy LUX, but that’s only for purchasing cosmetics.
There’s also a Premium Pass, which, once again, only offers cosmetic items. Bungie is adamant that there’s no “pay for power” in Marathon, and even if you’re not keen on spending for the Premium Pass, the Codex includes unlockable cosmetics. That said, it hasn’t clarified whether the Rewards Pass works similarly to the Warbonds in Helldivers 2, where you can effectively farm Super Credits and not have to pay any money for the new items.
Marathon launches later today for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC with pre-loads currently available. You can head here to learn more about seasons, including what gets wiped when they end, or discover everything that Season 1: DEATH IS ONLY THE FIRST STEP has to offer. If none of that matters, then maybe this slick cinematic launch trailer will.
