Is it worth jumping into Marathon now, or has that ship sailed? Bungie’s extraction shooter has reset for Season 2, Nightfall, and a new season is the natural moment to ask the question. There is fresh content, a clean slate, and a lot riding on it. Here is what actually changed, and my honest read on where this game sits.
First, the reset
Season 1 ended on 1 June, and with it your progress and vaulted loot were wiped. That is the deal with a seasonal extraction shooter: the slate gets cleared so everyone starts the new season on even footing. Season 2, Nightfall, began on 2 June. If you have not logged in since launch, do not go hunting for your old stash. It is gone, and that is by design.
What Nightfall adds
The new season is a proper content drop, not just a coat of paint:
- A new Night Marsh zone to learn, which means new sightlines, new loot routes and new ambush spots to get killed in until you figure them out.
- A new Runner shell, the Sentinel, adding another playstyle to the roster.
- Two new weapons to chase and build around.
- A new system called The Cradle that lets you customise your Runner shell’s stats, so you can finally tune your build rather than take what you are given.
- Changes to faction progression, reworking how you climb with the in-world factions.
That is a healthy season. The Cradle in particular is the kind of depth this genre rewards, and a new zone is always the thing that pulls lapsed players back for a look.
The honest bit
Here is where I have to level with you, because that is the deal on this site. Marathon reviewed well. The shooting is sharp, it looks fantastic, and Bungie know how to build a gunfight. The problem was never quality, it was that the game fell short of the sales expectations Sony had for it. So this is a good game fighting an uphill battle for a population, which in an extraction shooter matters, because a healthy player count is part of the experience.
The other thing to be clear about: Marathon is PvP-first. The danger here is other players, full stop. That is a different beast from the PvE-leaning extraction shooters I usually champion on this channel, so if you came here for slow, methodical solo runs against AI, this is not that. If that is your itch, Gray Zone Warfare is still the one I would point you to.
My take
Nightfall is a genuinely solid season, and if you bounced off Marathon at launch it is a fair reason to give it another look while the population gets a boost. Go in for the gunplay and the tension, not for a relaxing time. If you want the full rundown on going it alone first, I covered can you play Marathon solo, and for the wider field, the best solo PvE extraction shooters in 2026 is where I keep my honest rankings for this genre.
MarathonBungieextraction shooterNightfallPvPseason 2
FAQ
When did Marathon Season 2 Nightfall start?
Season 1 ended on 1 June and Season 2, Nightfall, began on 2 June. The reset is the natural moment to ask whether it is worth jumping in.
Did Marathon wipe my progress in Season 2?
Yes. With the end of Season 1 your progress and vaulted loot were wiped. That is the deal with a seasonal extraction shooter, so if you have not logged in since launch, do not go hunting for your old stash. It is gone, and that is by design.
What does Nightfall add to Marathon?
A new Night Marsh zone, a new Runner shell called the Sentinel, two new weapons, a new system called The Cradle that lets you customise your Runner shell's stats, and changes to faction progression. That is a healthy season, and The Cradle in particular is the kind of depth this genre rewards.
Is Marathon PvE or PvP?
Marathon is PvP-first. The danger here is other players, full stop, which is a different beast from the PvE-leaning extraction shooters WillyB usually champions. If you came for slow, methodical solo runs against AI, this is not that.
Is Marathon worth playing now?
Nightfall is a genuinely solid season, and if you bounced off at launch it is a fair reason to give it another look while the population gets a boost. The game reviewed well and the shooting is sharp; its problem was never quality, it was falling short of the sales expectations Sony had for it. Go in for the gunplay and the tension, not for a relaxing time.
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