Marathon seems to have fallen upon controversy yet again, as a discounted deluxe edition version of the game bought by many PlayStation users does not actually include the full game.
This discounted deluxe edition appears to have had its game and legal page updated to emphasize the fact that buyers wouldn’t get a copy of Marathon’s base game post-trial; just the deluxe edition perks. As such, if they wish to continue playing Marathon after the trial, they’ll have to buy the full version of the game on top of the deluxe package. Oops.
Here’s the Marathon season 2 overview trailer.Watch on YouTube
This matters because, as of writing, there is a free trial for Marathon allowing those curious about the game to try it out until the 11th June. The idea was, assumedly, people would check out Marathon, and if they liked it, they would buy a cheaper copy of the deluxe edition in order to play on throughout its second season.
They would be able to enjoy the deluxe edition benefits – including cosmetics, a premium seasonal pass, and some premium currency – throughout the duration of the free trial. However, their access would be cut off once the trial ends. Therein lies the problem: a much-needed second wave of players who otherwise may be enjoying the game may indeed come away feeling hoodwinked after buying this deluxe edition package.
This comes after Marathon suffered a lengthy period of maintenance on the first day of season two. Bungie has attempted to soothe frustrations, extending the free trial for the game and giving players a little bit of free in-game currency, but controversies like this will do little to help a game that hasn’t seen the launch numbers it was likely expecting.