Last updated: 2026-03-21
Marathon Season 1: DEATH IS THE FIRST STEP
Complete guide to Marathon Season 1: Death is the First Step, including the March 21 Ranked beta window, launch content, resets, and Season 2 preview.
✅ All seasonal content is FREE
No expansions. No DLC. No pay-to-win. Ranked rewards are cosmetic only.
Season 1 content table
| Feature | Launch Mar 5 | Mar 6 | Ranked beta | Ongoing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game Launch | Yes | - | - | - |
| Perimeter Zone | Yes | Yes | First Ranked weekend | Yes |
| Dire Marsh Zone | Yes | Yes | Weekend rotation | Yes |
| Outpost Zone | - | Yes (RL12) | Weekend rotation | Yes |
| Ranked Beta | - | - | Mar 21-24 | Weekends |
| Thief Runner | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Full Faction Progression | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ranked beta in Season 1
Ranked beta runs from March 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM PT through March 24, 2026 at 10:00 AM PT. Bungie says it will rotate between Perimeter, Dire Marsh, and Outpost on weekends, with the first weekend on Perimeter and Low Stakes only.
Seasonal resets
What resets
- All gear and loot
- Contract progression
- Faction progression
- Player level
What carries over
- All cosmetics
- Titles and achievements
- Codex progression
- Liaison contract progression
Important for Ranked: Bungie now says your highest rank achieved is what determines season rewards. Seasonal resets still mean each future season can restart the competitive climb.
Looking ahead - Season 2: NIGHTFALL
Bungie has already previewed NIGHTFALL with a nighttime Dire Marsh variant, the Cradle system, a new Runner shell, and more weapons, mods, and contracts.