Don't Buy Marathon on Steam, Save 20% With This Workaround
Bungie's Marathon is all set to be a massive hit - with this deal you can snag yourself a code for 2026’s most-anticipated shooter for less. Here’s how.
Everyone is buzzing about Marathon - an extraction shooter like ARC Raiders from the studio behind Destiny 2. It releases on 5 March for PC, Xbox Series X/S and PS5, with cross-play from day 1.
Usually, it costs $39.99/£34.99. A slight sting to your wallet, considering the ill-fated shooter Highguard was free, and ARC Raiders’ cost a touch less in the UK - $39.99/£32.99. You could say, a small price to play for the hours of content the devs have planned. I would say - I’m broke.
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Saying that - I really did enjoy the couple of hours I spent in the recent free Server Slam the weekend before launch. As a reboot of Bungie’s cult classic Marathon, a beloved 90’s sci-fi FPS, there’s a lot of hope for the future of Marathon in 2026. I don’t want this clipped out of context by people on Twitter if I’m wrong.
No matter if you’re hyped for Marathon, or still on the fence, a bargain is a bargain. If you’re planning to play it on PC, buying it on Steam would be a mistake.
How to get Marathon for cheap on PC
The website Loaded (formerly CDKeys) is a reputable third-party source of cheap PC keys. You can get a Steam key for Marathon for just $33.89/£27.99 - the cheapest price I’ve seen out there so far.
If you’re 100% all in on Marathon, you can also get the Deluxe Edition for $50.79/£39.99, down from $59.99/£49.99. That’s nearly the same price as the regular version, so well worth picking up either.
Is Marathon worth your time?
Before you splurge on this deal, you might be wondering if the hype is justified. In the past - I would’ve said no. A controversial art theft soured my opinion towards the game, as well as negative feedback from the alpha test from players. But Bungie did what Bungie does best, and listened to the players. Now, with revamped gameplay and an all-new (if not quite as interesting, in my opinion), darker art style, this could be a PvPvE shooter that steals ARC Raiders crown.
If you liked ARC Raiders, the gameplay loop of Escape From Tarkov, or Destiny’s gunplay, you should give Marathon a go. It’s definitely easier than Escape From Tarkov, and I’m not good at shooters. However, I found the beta moreish enough to keep me scavenging the lost colony of Tau Ceti IV as a very-stylish bio-cybernetic Runner. The fact I’m jumping back in this weekend despite not typically being a fan of the PvP genre says a lot.
And I’m not the only one! After the popular Marathon Server Slam beta test, Marathon sits at #1 on the US Steam Top Sellers chart and #2 globally. Sorry, Resident Evil Requiem and ARC Raiders!
What is the future of Marathon’s live-service?
You're spending all that money, you probably want to know if it's going to be a good investment over time. The answer is - yes!
Marathon’s seasonal updates will be available to everyone, no expansions or DLC required.
In a recent blog post, the devs shared information on what we can expect at launch. Brian Ekberg, Principal Content Marketing Manager at Bungie, said:
“At launch, Marathon will include all six launch Runner shells, access to the Rook frame, aka scavenger mode, six factions, 28 weapons (plus mods, implants, cores), as well as earnable cosmetics, achievements, and storytelling through the Code.”
If you want to save and wait, he also revealed a major twist to the genre that I love.
You can jump in at any time - the end of the season will reset your vault so everyone starts the new season on the same level playing field. I like that - it means the power scaling and level curve issues I had with Helldivers 2 should be eased. That does rely on me getting good, however.
If you’re planning on playing Marathon, make sure to take advantage of this Loaded deal and save 20% - pick it up for $39.99/£34.99!
But first - make sure your PC can run it! We've got all the information you need on Marathon PC specs here.
Marathon launches 5 March 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC. Full crossplay is available.