While plenty has been said about Marathon struggling to maintain a high player count and Sony’s disappointment in the game’s sales numbers, it’s also worth pointing out that the thousands of fans who are still playing the game truly adore it. Some are loving the game so much, in fact, that they are simply waiting for more appealing skins to enter the in-game store, as they’re looking fot a reason to further support Bungie’s Extraction Shooter. And though the Assassin Shell’s upcoming Arachne store skin is a looker, the reality is that most outfits thus far have been fairly tame recolors.
While there is a case to be made that Marathon skins keeping things sleek and simple is for the best, as it allows for Marathon’s gorgeous art style to be maintained while ensuring that fights stay quickly readable, games like Overwatch prove developers can get a bit creative with cosmetics so long as the general silhouettes remain the same. Marathon can, and arguably should, be releasing more appealing skins for its Runners (and weapons), especially with the existing community eager to fork over some extra cash for them. And when thinking of designs that could stand out from what’s currently available, a Saros crossover immediately comes to mind.
Like Marathon, Saros is a PlayStation Studios project. Thus far, PlayStation Studios representation in the game has been restricted to some weapon charms for Death Stranding 2, Ghost of Yotei, and Helldivers 2.
Marathon Could Revive Its Player Base in Season 2 With These Key Changes
With Marathon more than halfway through its inaugural Season, it’s worth looking at what the next Season can do to boost the game’s player count.
Saros’ Launch Would Have Been the Perfect Time For a Marathon Collab
Housemarque’s spritual successor to Returnal just launched, and it’s been met with plenty of critical acclaim. Regardless of whether the game being slightly less punishing (due to its second chance mechanic and a range of permanent upgrades) results in more sales than its predecessor, it remains challenging, which is a key trait of Marathon as well. Of Saros‘ many strengths, from its replayability and boss fights to its shifting setting and visuals, it’s that final trait that would ensure a proper collaboration shines. Saros is a looker, with its eclipse-themed imagery being downright gorgeous, and it’s surprising that Bungie had nothing ready to go to celebrate such an artistically striking sci-fi game’s debut.
Sure, a simple weapon charm could have been all that was released (Arjun’s medallion seems like it would be a viable candidate), but a Saros crossover could have broken the seal on bolder Marathon shop bundles, killing two birds with one stone. Every Runner Shell could have gotten a Saros-themed skin, covered in suns, a fiery orange hue that stands out from the existing Traxus skins, and so on. Said skins could have been thrown together in one huge pack — think Overwatch’s crossover bundles — or purchased individually, allowing players who only use a few Shells to get the ones they’ll actually use.
Alongside some aethereal armor reminiscent of Arjun’s gear, skins for Marathon’s weapons also could have been released. Even if Marathon’s Shell skins remain tame, there’s no reason Bungie can’t flex its creative muscles a bit more when it comes to weapon cosmetics. With the potential not just for some fiery weapon patterns with sun insignia, but full-on weapons pulled from Saros (wielding the crossbow or chakram in Marathon would be awesome), it’s hard not to think of what could have been. And while it’s totally possible that Bungie could get to the party a bit late, celebrating Saros in the coming weeks, it does feel like it’s let this opportunity slip through its fingers.
A Saros x Marathon Collab Would Only Be the Tip of the Iceberg
As good of a match as Saros would be for Marathon — both games are all about dying and coming back — it’s hardly the only candidate for deeper crossovers. For instance, given their sci-fi vibes, both Death Stranding 2 and Helldivers 2 can and should be more than just a source of weapon charms, as some Bridges and Super Earth gear for the Runners to don would surely be stunning. And much like Blizzard has done with Overwatch’s latest Diablo collab, which is meant to celebrate Diablo 4’s new expansion, Bungie could pull skins from its own franchises like Destiny 2. Even upcoming games, like Naughty Dog’s Intergalactic, would be perfect fits for cosmetics. As gamers continue dooming over Marathon’s player count and fearing that support could be pulled soon, it’s hard not to think about how disappointing it’d be if the game never reached its full potential when it comes to its cosmetics.
- Released
-
March 5, 2026
- ESRB
-
Teen / Animated Blood, Language, Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Multiplayer
-
Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
