Bungie’s Marathon has landed on the PC requirements page with a clear, conservative baseline — and the numbers tell a story about accessibility, live‑service design, and a few engineering caveats that every PC owner should know before preloading. The studio’s published minimum and recommended specs favor broad compatibility over bleeding‑edge fidelity, but they also include specific hardware caveats (notably around Intel Arc support and Resizable BAR) and an odd naming inconsistency that deserves scrutiny.
Bungie’s Marathon is a modern, multiplayer‑focused reimagining of its classic sci‑fi IP, delivered as an extraction‑style PvPvE shooter. After delays and a period of alpha testing, Bungie confirmed a March 5, 2026 release and published PC system requirements on the Steam storefront and developer resources. Those entries define two tiers — Minimum and Recommended — and are the primary source for what players can expect at launch.
The choice to target relatively modest hardware is intentional. Marathon’s design as a live‑service, matchmaking‑driven multiplayer game means a larger accessible install base helps sustain healthy queues and reduces geographic fragmentation. Bungie’s track record with Destiny shows a studio comfortable prioritizing broad reach; Marathon’s system block follows the same philosophy while nudging recommended specs up to reflect modern multitasking and streaming patterns.
Marathon’s published requirements are a pragmatic, player‑friendly baseline that reflect a studio aiming to hit a broad audience on day one. The technical caveats — Resizable BAR for Intel Arc, a kernel anti‑cheat, and ambiguous GPU naming — are the real headlines beneath the paragraph of numbers. Prepare drives, update BIOS and drivers, consider 16 GB as a minimum, and plan GPU upgrades only if you need higher resolutions or higher framerates; with those steps, most players should be well positioned to hit the ground running on March 5, 2026.
Source: Turtle Beach https://www.turtlebeach.com/blog/marathon-system-requirements-minimum-recommended-and-more/
Background / Overview
Bungie’s Marathon is a modern, multiplayer‑focused reimagining of its classic sci‑fi IP, delivered as an extraction‑style PvPvE shooter. After delays and a period of alpha testing, Bungie confirmed a March 5, 2026 release and published PC system requirements on the Steam storefront and developer resources. Those entries define two tiers — Minimum and Recommended — and are the primary source for what players can expect at launch.The choice to target relatively modest hardware is intentional. Marathon’s design as a live‑service, matchmaking‑driven multiplayer game means a larger accessible install base helps sustain healthy queues and reduces geographic fragmentation. Bungie’s track record with Destiny shows a studio comfortable prioritizing broad reach; Marathon’s system block follows the same philosophy while nudging recommended specs up to reflect modern multitasking and streaming patterns.
What Bungie Published: The Official PC Tiers
Below is a paraphrased, verified summary of the two tiers Bungie listed for Marathon on Steam:Minimum (Playable)
- OS: Windows 10 64‑bit (latest Service Pack)
- CPU: Intel Core i5‑6600 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4 GB) / AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (4 GB) / Intel Arc A580 (8 GB, with Resizable BAR on)
- DirectX: Version 12
- Network: Broadband internet connection
These minimums were the same thresholds used to qualify participants during the closed alpha.
Recommended (Comfortable)
- OS: Windows 10 64‑bit (latest Service Pack)
- CPU: Intel Core i5‑10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce “GTX 2060” (6 GB) / AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (8 GB) / Intel Arc A770 (16 GB, with Resizable BAR on)
- DirectX: Version 12
Bungie’s recommended tier aims for a stable 1080p, higher‑detail experience, but the publisher stopped short of naming modern RTX‑class or RX 6000/7000 GPUs explicitly. Note: the NVIDIA entry appears on the Steam block as “GTX 2060,” a naming oddity that we’ll analyze below.
Quick Take: What These Numbers Mean for Players
Short version: the minimum is intentionally attainable, the recommended is realistic for 1080p/60 fps play, and you should plan for higher specs if you want 1440p / 144 Hz or consistent streaming performance.- 8 GB of system RAM is a true floor. Modern Windows plus background apps will quickly consume usable memory; 16 GB is the practical starting point for most players.
- Minimum GPUs like the GTX 1050 Ti and RX 5500 XT are older cards. Expect playable frame rates at 1080p only on low–medium settings; visual compromises will be necessary.
- The recommended list (notably the RTX/GTX “2060” entry and RX 5700 XT) points to a comfortable 1080p experience, but not to future‑proof 1440p/ultrawide, high‑fps targets. Upgrading into newer RTX 30/40 or AMD RX 6000/7000 tiers will be required for those goals.
Deep Dive: CPU, GPU, Memory — Practical Implications
CPU: Why older silicon still works, and when it won’t
Bungie’s minimum CPU recommendation includes the Intel Core i5‑6600 (a 4c/4t Skylake chip) and the AMD Ryzen 5 2600 (6c/12t). The disparity is intentional: Marathon’s engine uses a blend of single‑thread performance and multithreaded workloads (AI, physics, network). A 4‑core quad‑thread CPU can run the game, but expect CPU‑bound bottlenecks in crowded scenarios such as full extraction runs and end‑game events. For stable performance, a 6c/12t (or better) CPU is the safer bet.GPU: The generational gap and what settings you’ll need
- Minimum GPUs (GTX 1050 Ti / RX 5500 XT) are aimed at 1080p low‑to‑medium. They were mainstream several years ago and are not suited for high frame rates or high resolutions. If you own one of these, plan on lowering shadow, texture and post‑processing settings for consistent play.
- Recommended GPUs listed (the “GTX 2060” entry and RX 5700 XT) are mid‑range performers capable of smoother 1080p at higher settings. However, Bungie’s table doesn’t explicitly call out modern RTX or RDNA 2/3 generation cards; those will naturally outperform the recommended list but aren’t required.
Memory: 8 GB vs 16 GB — the real world difference
While Bungie lists 8 GB as the minimum, the practical experience aligns with modern PC norms: 16 GB is the effective minimum for comfortable gameplay while running overlays, chat apps, streaming tools, or background tasks. Players who stream or keep heavy multitasking should consider 32 GB to avoid stutters and out‑of‑memory pressure.Platform and Anti‑Cheat Considerations
Bungie’s Steam listing notes a dependency on DirectX 12, and flags a kernel‑level anti‑cheat system (BattlEye) as required at launch. It also warns that storage requirements may increase post‑launch and did not publish a definitive install size at time of listing. Those are non‑trivial operational details:- BattlEye kernel mode: Kernel‑level anti‑cheats have raised privacy and stability debates in recent years. While they provide deeper integration to deter cheats, they can cause system conflicts and have occasionally been implicated in blue‑screen and driver compatibility issues. Expect BattlEye to enforce stricter requirements and to interact with certain third‑party drivers.
- No confirmed install size: Steam’s store block didn’t include a final download/installation size when Bungie published the system tiers. Marathon’s live‑service model means the install footprint could increase significantly with seasonal content and patches, so plan for additional disk headroom.
The Intel Arc & Resizable BAR Caveat — Why it matters
Bungie explicitly calls out Intel Arc GPUs (A580 and A770) in both tiers and recommends Resizable BAR (ReBAR) enabled for those cards. Resizable BAR is a motherboard/BIOS feature that lets the CPU access the GPU frame buffer more efficiently, and on Intel Arc silicon it can materially affect performance.- This is a targeted technical recommendation — it implies Bungie and/or Intel found performance regressions without ReBAR enabled. If you plan to use Intel Arc hardware, verify that your motherboard BIOS exposes Resizable BAR and that it’s enabled; you may need a BIOS update and compatible CPU/chipset to toggle it.
The “GTX 2060” Naming Discrepancy — An Oddity, and Why to Care
Several outlets and the Steam listing reproduced Bungie’s NVIDIA entry as “GTX 2060,” an inconsistent product name since NVIDIA’s generational cards transitioned to the RTX prefix with the 20‑series. Reporting elsewhere lists the GPU as “RTX 2060,” and Bungie’s table appears to reflect an editorial or localization error. This is more than a trivia point because:- If the intent was RTX 2060, that implies a card with RT cores and potential support for ray tracing features, even at modest performance.
- If the listing truly meant a GTX‑class card, that changes the expected baseline where ray‑tracing is concerned.
We flag this as an ambiguity worth watching; Steam’s product table contains the GTX wording at publication, and multiple independent reproductions of Bungie’s specs echoed that same label. Until Bungie clarifies the naming, players should interpret the recommended tier as pointing to a mid‑range 2000‑series equivalent in raw performance, not necessarily to a particular feature set.
Storage, Updates and Live‑Service Reality
Bungie warns that hard drive/storage requirements are subject to change. For live‑service shooters, the pattern is predictable: seasonal content, expanded asset packs, and post‑launch patches can inflate install size quickly.- Recommendation: allocate generous SSD space. If you have an NVMe SSD, install Marathon there for reduced load times and smoother streaming of assets during matches. Expect the initial install to grow with time.
Upgrade Guidance: What to Buy (and What to Skip)
If you’re thinking of upgrading for Marathon, match your choice to your target experience.- If you want to play at 1080p, 60 fps with high settings:
- Aim for a GPU at least comparable to the recommended tier (modern equivalents to the RTX 2060 / RX 5700 XT or better). 16 GB RAM and a 6c/12t CPU (or better) are advised.
- If you want 1440p or high‑fps (120/144 Hz):
- Invest in current‑generation GPUs (RTX 30/40 series, AMD RX 6000/7000 series) and a strong CPU (6–8 cores, modern architecture). 32 GB RAM is reasonable for streaming.
- If you’re on a budget GPU (GTX 1050 Ti / RX 5500 XT):
- Expect to play on low/medium settings at 1080p. Consider resolution scaling and turning off expensive post‑processing options. Don’t expect competitive high‑fps performance.
- If you use Intel Arc:
- Check motherboard BIOS for Resizable BAR support and enable ReBAR. This can be decisive for Arc performance.
PC Optimization and Pre‑Launch Checklist
- Update GPU drivers (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel) and your motherboard BIOS well before launch. Driver updates often accompany new game releases and can fix performance regressions.
- Ensure Windows 10 is fully patched (“latest Service Pack” per Bungie’s listing), and verify BattlEye compatibility with your security software and drivers.
- Free up disk space and consider an NVMe install to reduce texture streaming stalls.
- If you stream, set OBS or your streaming software to use dedicated hardware encoding (NVENC or equivalent) to reduce CPU pressure. 16 GB is the absolute minimum for streaming; 32 GB is safer.
Risks, Unknowns and Things to Watch
No pre‑launch spec is the whole story. Marathon’s listing leaves a few gaps and risks that players should weigh:- Windows 11 support not explicitly listed: Bungie lists Windows 10 64‑bit “(latest Service Pack)” in both tiers. While many Windows 10 games run on Windows 11, the official table does not explicitly call out Windows 11 compatibility. This is a minor red flag for users running Windows 11; expect compatibility but verify updates and driver support. Treat any Windows 11‑specific experience claims as unverified until Bungie clarifies.
- Anti‑cheat & privacy/performance tradeoffs: Kernel‑level anti‑cheat tends to be effective but can also be a source of platform conflicts or user concern. Keep an eye on community reports in the first days after launch.
- Install size inflation: Marathon is a live‑service game — install size will likely grow with updates and seasonal content. Don’t assume the initial installer is the final growth‑free size.
- Ambiguous GPU naming: The “GTX 2060” label could be a typo or localization issue. We recommend waiting for Bungie to clarify whether RTX features were implied for the recommended tier.
Community and Matchmaking Implications
Bungie’s lower minimum requirements align with a strategy to maximize the active player base at launch. From a matchmaking and longevity perspective, this matters a lot:- Larger installed base reduces queue times and improves matchmaking balance for competitive and extraction modes.
- However, matching players across very broad hardware capability can create perceived fairness issues (e.g., high‑fps advocates vs console/mid‑range players). Bungie’s design choices (netcode, tick rate, aim assist, cross‑play settings) will be just as important as hardware baselines in shaping competitive fairness. The published specs are a necessary but not sufficient factor for a healthy launch.
Final Verdict: Who Should Be Excited, and Who Should Upgrade
Bungie’s Marathon system requirements show deliberate prioritization of accessibility without insisting on the latest flagship hardware. That’s great news for players with mid‑range rigs or slightly older desktops who want to jump into a new multiplayer experience without immediate upgrades.- Buy/Play Now: If you have a mid‑range GPU equivalent to the recommended tier and 16 GB of RAM, Marathon should run well at 1080p with a comfortable experience.
- Upgrade Considerations: If you aim for 1440p, ultrawide, or high‑fps competitive play, plan on upgrading your GPU and possibly increasing RAM to 32 GB. Also ensure BattlEye compatibility and, for Intel Arc owners, enable ReBAR in BIOS.
- Caution: Keep an eye on Bungie clarifications for the NVIDIA naming discrepancy and for any announced Windows 11 compatibility notes. Also budget for potential increases in storage needs as the live service grows.
Marathon’s published requirements are a pragmatic, player‑friendly baseline that reflect a studio aiming to hit a broad audience on day one. The technical caveats — Resizable BAR for Intel Arc, a kernel anti‑cheat, and ambiguous GPU naming — are the real headlines beneath the paragraph of numbers. Prepare drives, update BIOS and drivers, consider 16 GB as a minimum, and plan GPU upgrades only if you need higher resolutions or higher framerates; with those steps, most players should be well positioned to hit the ground running on March 5, 2026.
Source: Turtle Beach https://www.turtlebeach.com/blog/marathon-system-requirements-minimum-recommended-and-more/
