Bungie has finally pulled back the curtain on the technical requirements for its upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon. While the studio recently confirmed a 5 March 2026 release date, the finer details regarding its security measures have surfaced, and it is a bitter pill to swallow for those of us who have ditched Windows in favour of Linux or the Steam Deck.
In a move that mirrors the controversial stance taken with Destiny 2, Bungie has confirmed that Marathon will utilise BattlEye kernel-level anti-cheat. While robust security is sometimes a necessity for any high-stakes extraction shooter to protect the in-game economy and player experience, the implementation chosen here essentially slams the door shut on Linux users.
As a Linux user myself, I was hoping Bungie might take a page out of the book of other modern developers who have enabled Proton support within BattlEye. Unfortunately, the official system requirements now explicitly list Windows 10 or 11 as a mandatory requirement. This confirms that, despite the hardware being more than capable, the software-level “handshake” required by the anti-cheat will not be supported on SteamOS or any other Linux distribution.
Why It Won’t Work on Steam Deck
- Kernel-Level Requirements: BattlEye operates at a deep level of the OS, which Bungie has declined to bridge for Linux-based systems.
- Proton Opt-out: While BattlEye offers a simple “opt-in” for Proton compatibility, Bungie continues to maintain a walled-garden approach.
- Account Risks: Attempting to run the game through compatibility layers or workarounds often results in immediate account bans in Bungie titles.
- Windows Necessity: The only viable way to play on a Steam Deck will be to wipe the device and install a full version of Windows.
Marathon Technical Specifications
For those who are sticking with Windows, the hardware requirements are surprisingly modest. Bungie is clearly aiming for high frame rates and a broad player base, which is vital for a competitive PvPvE title.
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)
- Processor: Intel Core i5-6600 / AMD Ryzen 5 2600
- Memory: 8 GB RAM (16 GB Recommended)
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4 GB) / AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (4 GB)
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: SSD Recommended
The game will support full cross-play and cross-save across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, ensuring the player pool remains as large as possible, even if it is missing the Linux contingent.
What We Think
It is incredibly disappointing to see Bungie stick to its guns regarding Linux support. In an era where the Steam Deck has proven there is a massive market for handheld PC gaming, and Linux gaming is more viable than ever, being told “Windows or nothing” feels like a step backward. While I understand the need to combat cheaters in a game where losing your gear is part of the loop, plenty of other developers have managed to secure their games while still supporting Proton. For me, and many others in the Linux community, Marathon is unfortunately looking like a “skip” unless we want to maintain a dedicated Windows partition just for one game.
Where to Buy
If you are on a supported platform, pre-orders are currently available:
- PC: Steam (Windows Only)
- PlayStation: PS5 Store
- Xbox: Microsoft Store
