Bungie, a studio known for the Halo and Destiny franchises, has confirmed the launch of its new extraction shooter, Marathon, for March 5, 2026. The title will arrive simultaneously for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series
Despite expectations, a technical detail generated apprehension among a significant portion of the PC gaming community. The developer announced the implementation of the BattlEye anti-cheat system at the kernel level, a robust security measure, but one that historically presents barriers for operating systems based on Linux.
To date, Bungie has not issued any official statement regarding the enablement of BattlEye compatibility mode for the Proton, the Valve software layer that allows Windows games to be run on the The absence of this confirmation suggests that, at launch, the game may be inaccessible to users of these systems.
The BattlEye dilemma and the Proton compatibility layer
The BattlEye system operates with elevated privileges in the operating system, monitoring processes in real time to detect cheating software, memory modifications or any activity that could give an unfair advantage in online matches. The Essa approach, known as “kernel level”, is extremely effective at preventing cheats, but creates a technical hurdle for environments that are not natively Windows. The Proton compatibility layer, developed by Valve, works as a kind of translator, intercepting the calls that a game makes to Windows and converting them into instructions that Linux can understand. Do From the point of view of an aggressive anti-cheat like BattlEye, this translation process can be indistinguishable from an attempt to manipulate the game’s code, leading to the player being immediately blocked or preventing the game from even starting. The solution to this impasse already exists: Epic Games, developer of BattlEye, created a specific module that allows the anti-cheat to work correctly through Proton. However, activation of this module is not automatic; it depends entirely on deliberate action on the part of the game development studio, which needs to enable this functionality. Portanto, the responsibility for compatibility falls directly to Bungie, which must choose to support this slice of the market.
Bungie’s history with the Linux system
The community’s concern is not unfounded and is based directly on Bungie’s restrictive history with its flagship franchise, Jogadores who have attempted to bypass the restriction in the past have often received permanent bans, cementing the company’s policy of not supporting the Linux ecosystem. Essa’s stance has remained unchanged for years, even with the significant advances of Proton and the exponential growth of the user base of Steam Deck, a portable console that runs a version of Linux customized by Valve.
Bungie’s decision contrasts with other major studios that faced the same technical challenge and opted for a more inclusive approach. Popular Jogos such as Fortnite, Esses cases demonstrate that compatibility is technically feasible and that the decision to exclude players from Linux is largely a policy choice and resource prioritization rather than an insurmountable technological limitation. The community is now waiting to see if Bungie will change its philosophy with Marathon or if it will maintain the same line adopted with Destiny 2.
Details about Marathon gameplay
Marathon marks the return of a classic 1990s Bungie franchise, now reimagined as an extraction shooter focused on PvP (player versus player) matches. The central objective is for teams of three players, known as Corredores, to explore maps in search of valuable artifacts and technology, while facing off against other squads with the same objective.
The gameplay promises to be intense and strategic, with a cycle of risk and reward. Players need to not only defeat opponents, but also be able to successfully extract the collected items so that they become part of their permanent inventory. Bungie plans to keep the game fresh with a season system, introducing new content, weapons and equipment regularly.
To ensure a unified player base and facilitate play between friends, the game will feature full cross-play support, allowing PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC users to play together. Além Additionally, the cross-save functionality will ensure that all progress and unlocked items are synced across all platforms linked to the same account.
System Requirements and Accessibility on PC
Bungie released the system requirements for the PC version of Marathon, which turned out to be surprisingly accessible, aiming to reach a wide audience.
For the minimum configuration, you will need a processor such as the Intel Core i5-6600 or an AMD Ryzen 5 1600, components that have already been on the market for several years.
In the graphics department, video cards such as the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or the AMD Radeon RX 580 will be enough to run the game satisfactorily.
The game will require 8 GB of RAM and around 100 GB of available storage space, with the recommendation to use an SSD to optimize loading times.
The reaction of the growing gaming community
News of the potential incompatibility was met with frustration by players using Linux and especially by owners of Steam Deck. The Essa community has grown steadily, currently representing between 2% and 4% of the Steam user base, according to data from Valve itself, a number that translates into millions of active players.
On specialized forums and social networks, discussions intensified, with many users expressing disappointment with Bungie. The company’s lack of a clear positioning is seen as a negative indicator, fueling fears that the restrictive policy of Destiny 2 will be replicated in the new launch.
What to expect from the March launch
With the date of March 5, 2026 confirmed, Marathon is positioned as one of the major releases of the first quarter of the year. Pre-orders are now available in digital stores, offering bonuses such as exclusive skins and in-game currency for those who purchase in advance.
The title enters an increasingly competitive extraction genre, but relies on Bungie’s renown, a deep sci-fi narrative and refined game mechanics to stand out. The compatibility issue, however, remains a shadow over the release for a portion of the PC community.
Built-in connectivity functions
Full integration of cross-play and cross-save reinforces Bungie’s vision of creating a unified ecosystem for Marathon. Essa’s modern approach makes the exclusion of a software platform like Linux even more glaring, highlighting a gap in a strategy that otherwise seems focused on removing barriers between players.