Good news, Marathon fans—those without a PSN account won’t need to worry about being locked out by Sony services when the game launches. A PlayStation Network account won’t be required.
This move opens the door for more players, especially those frustrated by Sony’s persistent push for a PSN login, even when not playing on a PlayStation console. The news was confirmed on Marathon’s official Discord channel, where Bungie explicitly stated: “Marathon will not require a PlayStation Account for players on PC and Xbox.”
click to enlargeIt’s a welcome update for fans who’ve been waiting to play Marathon on platforms beyond the PlayStation 5, especially in light of Sony’s previous missteps. Take Helldivers 2, for instance, Sony quietly made a PSN login mandatory post-launch and even region-locked access in certain countries, sparking widespread backlash (though the policy was later reversed).
Fortunately, Sony has since lifted PSN requirements for other recent titles like The Last of Us Part II Remastered and God of War: Ragnarok but will reward incentives to those who opt for a sign up.
The fact that Marathon isn’t a PS5 exclusive is also a smart move, especially since cross-play and cross-progression have become standard features in modern multiplayer gaming.
While we still don’t know exactly what Marathon has in store, the gameplay reveal is set for April 12—and fans are buzzing with anticipation. This PvP extraction shooter could mark a bold new chapter for Bungie, setting itself apart from the long-running Destiny 2.
After what happened with Concord, fans are hoping that PlayStation and Bungie will know better for this project. New live-service games are hard to get excited about, but it's hard not to be confident with Bungie's track record.
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