Is Marathon Crossplay?

Yes, Marathon fully supports crossplay.

Full Crossplay Support
Cross-Progression
Community Verified
FPSExtractionShooter

Quick Answer: Does Marathon have Crossplay & Cross-Progression?

Yes, Marathon supports full crossplay across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S. This means you can play with friends regardless of their platform. Cross-progression is enabled, keeping your saves and unlocks synced across platforms.

Note: Full crossplay across all platforms from day one. Crossplay can be optionally disabled in settings for players who prefer platform-exclusive matchmaking. A Bungie.net account is required, but a PlayStation Network account is not — a notable difference from other Sony-published titles.
Last verified: April 16, 2026

How to Play Cross-Platform

  1. Create or log into your Bungie.net account. This account is used to tie your progress and friends across platforms.
  2. Launch Marathon on your platform and complete the initial setup.
  3. Open the Social or Friends menu and search for your friends using their Bungie ID.
  4. Send a party invite and wait for your squad to fill up. Note that currently the maximum amount of players per squad is 3.
  5. Drop into a match together, crossplay is enabled by default.
  6. In case you ever wanted to disable crossplay, go to Settings and toggle it off. Note that this will likely increase matchmaking times.

Platform Compatibility

Marathon is available on the following platforms:

PCPlayStation 5Xbox Series X/S
Feature Supported Details
Crossplay Yes All listed platforms can play together.
Cross-Progression Yes Your saves and unlocks sync across platforms.
Split Screen / Couch Co-op No Online multiplayer only — no shared-screen play.

Does Marathon Have Cross-Progression?

Yes — Marathon supports cross-progression. Your saves, unlocks and progress stay synced when you switch platforms.

All progression in Marathon, such as loot, Runner shell unlocks, faction reputation, earned cosmetics and more, is tied to your Bungie.net account, not your platform account. This means everything transfers automatically if you play on both PC and console, without any manual linking or migration. Notably, Marathon does not require a PlayStation Network account to play on PC or Xbox, but instead only relies on their own Bungie.net solution.

Does Marathon Have Split Screen / Couch Co-op?

No — Marathon does not offer split screen or couch co-op. To play together, each player needs their own system running the game.

Technical Details

How Marathon Works

Marathon is a PvPvE extraction shooter set on the abandoned colony of Tau Ceti IV in the year 2893. Players drop in as 'Runners' in squads of up to 3, scavenging for loot, completing contracts, and fighting both AI enemies and rival squads. The core mechanic is the extraction loop: if you die, you lose everything you brought into the match. Successfully extracting permanently upgrades your stats and adds loot to your inventory. Maps each support between 15 and 18 players (around 5 or 6 squads of 3) simultaneously, with player count varying by map. The game runs on dedicated servers with disconnect protection, allowing players to reconnect to any in-progress match.

Marathon Solo Play & Offline Mode

Marathon is a multiplayer-only game, meaning that there is no single-player campaign and the game cannot be played offline. That said, Bungie has added a solo queue option, allowing players to drop into matches without a pre-formed squad and be matched into a team or compete solo. Storytelling is delivered through seasonal content, the in-game Codex, and lore tied to the world of Tau Ceti IV rather than through a standalone narrative campaign.

Marathon Seasons & Progression Reset

Marathon operates on three-month seasons. At the end of each season, most player progress is wiped, including loot and levels, to "keep the game fresh and loot meaningful". What carries over between seasons are earned cosmetics, faction reputation progress, and Codex entries. A seasonal battle pass is available for purchase each season, allowing players to unlock cosmetic items using in-game currency that may be earned leveling up. Once purchased, battle passes do not expire, and older passes can be bought at any time.

Marathon Platform Requirements

Marathon is available on PC (via Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Console players need an active PlayStation Plus subscription (PS5) or Xbox Game Pass Core (Xbox Series X/S) to access online multiplayer, while PC players only need the game. A Bungie.net account is required on all platforms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Marathon have crossplay?

Yes, Marathon has full crossplay across PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S from day one. Crossplay can be disabled in settings if you prefer to only match with players on your platform.

Does Marathon have cross-progression?

Yes, all progression, meaning loot, cosmetics, faction reputation, and Runner upgrades, is tied to your Bungie.net account and carries across all platforms automatically.

Do I need a PlayStation account to play Marathon on PC?

No, Marathon only requires a Bungie.net account across all platforms. A PlayStation Network account is not required on PC or Xbox. This is a deliberate decision by Bungie to avoid the friction seen in other Sony-published games.

Can I play Marathon solo?

Marathon has no single-player campaign and cannot be played offline, but Bungie has added a solo queue option, letting you drop into matches alone rather than requiring a pre-formed squad.

How many players are in a Marathon match?

Matches in Marathon feature between 15 and 18 players (5 or 6 squads of 3), depending on the map. Squads are made up of up to 3 Runners.

Does progress reset between seasons?

Yes, most progress resets at the end of each three-month season — including loot and levels. Earned cosmetics, Codex entries, and faction reputation progress carry over. Bungie has framed this as a design choice to keep loot meaningful and give new players a fair re-entry point each season.

Is Marathon available on PS4 or Xbox One?

No, Marathon is current-gen only, meaning that it is available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S exclusively, alongside PC via Steam.

Is Marathon free to play?

No, Marathon is a paid title available in Standard and Deluxe editions. A seasonal battle pass is available for additional cosmetic unlocks but does not affect gameplay.

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