The message pinged at 3 AM. A hurried glance revealed the Xbox Store logo—a potential release date for Marathon blinking back in the harsh light. The heart rate spikes. This could be it.
For months, the gaming community has been watching Bungie’s next move, and the anticipation for Marathon has been building. We knew, thanks to an official announcement last December, that March 2026 was the target. But now? Maybe we have a bullseye.
The Xbox Store Leak: A Glimpse into the Future?
Imagine walking past a construction site, and for a moment, the tarps shift, revealing the building underneath. Is that the Marathon release date?
Earlier today, eagle-eyed Redditor TheJuiceBaba spotted a trailer on the Xbox Store that whispered “5 Mar. 2026.” IGN quickly amplified the find on X. All the evidence points to an imminent release date announcement.
Marathon releases March 2026, and everyone will have a chance to play in an open preview weekend before launch. pic.twitter.com/ps64pG4PU0
— Marathon (@MarathonTheGame) December 15, 2025
Xbox Store prematurely announces Marathon release date: March 5, 2026. https://t.co/xANWkLR6TW pic.twitter.com/Jtv9UaMzg6
— IGN (@IGN) January 19, 2026
Despite a somewhat bumpy development cycle, excitement simmers as Bungie prepares to show its hand. The proximity to the next Destiny 2 expansion, Shadow & Order, only intensifies the buzz.
Could This Date Be a Mistake?
Mistakes happen. A price tag is accidentally revealed. A trailer drops early. It’s possible this Xbox Store trailer was an older version, accidentally let loose into the wild.
The release date could have shifted since its creation, making this “leak” nothing more than a phantom. Or, the upload itself could have been the error, a slip-up that’s given us a genuine peek behind the curtain.
Playing the Waiting Game: What’s Next?
Remember waiting in line for concert tickets? The hours crawl by as anticipation builds. We are in that line now.
Until Bungie makes an official announcement, any celebration might be premature. Maybe hold off on booking that vacation day for Marathon’s launch (unless you’re that keen).
Will There Be an Open Preview Weekend Before Launch?
The good news? An open preview weekend is slated before the full release. It’s your chance to get hands-on and decide if Marathon lives up to the hype.
Bungie committed to this preview back in December. So, before March 5th, 2026, we could all be running through the game.
Fingers are crossed for an official date soon. What are the odds we see Marathon delayed again?