Bungie has officially begun the process of receiving pre-orders for the super-exclusive Marathon Collector’s Edition via its online store. The news was delivered through the official Marathon Twitter account which not only showcased a very intricate statue of a character referred to as ‘Thief’ from the game’s universe but also instantly got gamers talking about the $189 price label and the fact that a copy of the game was entirely absent from the offer. One way of seeing this announcement is that it reflects the high demand of the gaming community for the release of Bungie’s new extraction shooter while the other sees it as the perennial disregard for the ostentatious edition merch.
If I were to put it straight, Bungie made this hint regarding the Marathon Collector’s Edition and the very first view is… a mixture of thoughts. The main thing that attracts the people is a statue that is really very artistically and skillfully done, right? They introduce it as the “Thief shell,” and the creature is set in a place known as Dire Marsh. The packaging that accompanies it is meant to look as though it were from a company in the universe called Sekiguchi Genetics, which is a nice little touch with the game’s lore. Do not argue with me, The show is really something. According to the tweet, you can already place your order at the Bungie Store, and it even provides a direct link to it. But after you click, and view the price, that is where the chaos starts.
It’s priced at $189.99. What you get in return is a statue, several art prints, a lore book, and a large number of digital goodies for the actual game—like a gear set, weapon skins, and a stash of in-game currency. But there is one thing that has got everyone dumbfounded and that is the mind-boggling revelation that the box does NOT contain either a game disc or a download code for Marathon. You are simply receiving the $190 of stuff for a game that you will still have to purchase separately. This is the moment when the very loud and very immediate reaction from gamers starts.
The responses to the tweet can be observed as the ultimate lesson in gamer reactions as they range from pure delight to total incredulity and everything in between. One gamer, Fishy, stated it bluntly: “$189 with NO game lol.” And a lot of people echoed his sentiment. Another user, Arafat Rahman, didn’t say much and just stated: “Doesn’t even include the game.” It was the very first thing that many people were concerned about. Like, hold on, a Collector’s Edition that doesn’t even have the actual game in its collection? That seems… not very right. Some users tried to justify it. One user, Fraylen_C, responded to someone who was puzzled by it saying, “For the people who only want the item, not the game code. Why would anyone want just the item and not the game code? They fell in love with the game, after playing it.” Which could be, okay? But the game isn’t even out yet! How do you get to love it? It’s a bizarre chicken-and-egg situation Bungie has created.
Next, there is the concern about shipping. User d1beta_ronin made a very sarcastic remark about the shipping methods used by Bungie: “With Bungie’s shipping, pre-order now means you’ll get it in April 2027, if you’re lucky.” Ouch! That is a pretty brute and strong criticism based on past experiences with the Bungie Store, and it is quite likely that many Destiny players would sympathize, having had similar experiences. Other practical issues also came up. User Vülcano was very regretful and said, “I would have loved to pre-order, but it’s impossible in France :/”. And Ruy asked, “So does that mean I can’t buy it in Mexico?” with a link to a page that lists the shipping restrictions. So, even if you want it, you might not be able to get it.
But, on the other hand, it’s not all doom and gloom! There are players who are entirely in favor of it. Maverick86 referred to it as “one of the best looking Collector Editions I‘ve ever seen.” Actrons tweeted proudly about how they spent about $300 on Marathon merchandise which included a t-shirt and they said they “really want to support studios that take creative risks.” And Thelonious_Cano got all nostalgic: “Whoa! Haven’t visited the Bungie store since playing Halo. Can’t wait to play Marathon!” So the hype for the game is not in question.
The discussion also went to the specifics of what comes in the box. User MarcTheLlama91 mourned the absence of a steelbook: “No steelbook! 😩 y’all would have absolutely killed on that art. This is a huge disappointment for many fans, especially on other platforms like PlayStation where such editions are common.” The overall backlash highlights a growing tension between developers and their communities.
