Bungie has officially confirmed that Marathon Season 2, titled Nightfall, will launch on June 2, 2026, bringing with it the extraction shooter’s first major seasonal reset and a set of new content additions that the studio hopes will reinvigorate interest in a game that has been dealing with declining player numbers since its March launch. The seasonal reset will give every player a clean slate when Season 2 begins, with a full reveal of what Nightfall contains planned for the week of May 25, giving players a window to prepare before the new season goes live.
Season 2 will introduce the Night Marsh zone as a new playable map, described as a version of Dire Marsh when the sun goes down and the dangers grow, alongside a new Runner shell and new weapons. Bungie has also confirmed a new system called The Cradle, which will allow players to customize their Runner shell stats, adding a layer of build crafting that has not existed in the game before, along with faster faction progression and several quality-of-life updates. Details on the specific weapons, the full extent of The Cradle system, and other additions remain limited ahead of the May 25 showcase, but the combination of a new map and a genuinely new gameplay system gives Season 2 more structural substance than a content drop alone would provide.
As part of the seasonal model, the reset at the end of Season 1 means players will have a clean slate and equal footing when Season 2 starts, with the reset affecting Runner Level, Ranked Level, Faction Level and upgrades, credits and most currencies, all items in inventory and Vault, and any unclaimed gear or equipment reward packages. What will not reset includes cosmetics, weapon styles, titles, and emblems earned and redeemed in Season 1, non-seasonal Codex progression, LUX and SILK currency balances, and Rewards Pass progress, meaning players can continue working on their Season 1 Reward Pass even after Nightfall begins.
To ease the transition and reward players who have stuck with Season 1, Bungie is making the final weeks significantly more generous. Starting May 21, Cryo Archive will be available every day until the end of the season, with players receiving one free Cryo Archive Sponsored Kit each day, giving them a daily chance at the endgame raid instead of being limited to one free shot per weekend. Players will also receive milestone rewards based on their Season 1 Runner Level, with those who reach level 75 or higher beginning Season 2 with four Sponsored Kits. Bungie is under pressure following Sony’s acknowledgment that the studio suffered major financial losses linked to Marathon not meeting expectations, making Season 2 and how players respond to the first reset the biggest test the game has faced since launch. Extraction shooters have historically used seasonal wipes to refresh economies and give returning players a reason to re-engage, but they carry the risk of pushing away the existing audience if the reset feels more punitive than liberating, a balance Bungie will need to strike carefully with a player base that is still finding its footing.
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