Marathon looks set to chart new territory in the exaction shooter genre as leaks have unearthed a ranked mode distinct from the competitive offerings found in Arc Raiders, Escape from Tarkov, and others.
Marathon is fast-approaching its March 5, 2026 release date, and the hype is mounting. Bungie is continuing to ramp up its marketing efforts in the lead-up to an early weekend preview event. However, before we get there, leaks are already beginning to spill out.
Chief among them is the reported existence of a ranked mode, and it’s one that looks unlike anything else we’ve seen from the most popular games in the genre. Rather than simply taking your loot into deathmatch-style setups, or completing a series of weekly challenges, like in Tarkov and Arc Raiders, respectively, Marathon looks to up the ante.
If leaks hold true, a separate ranked experience will truly test your skill and that of your squadmates. Here’s how it works, according to the leaked details.
Marathon leak reveals intense Ranked Mode
News comes by way of reliable reporters at MP1st, who tracked intel from prominent gaming dataminer and leaker, X0X_Leak.
According to the source, Ranked Mode in Marathon works as follows.
There are six ranks, ranging from Bronze to Pinnacle, with some code referring to a Master Rank too, possibly hinting at a Top 500 equivalent for the elite of the elite. Each rank has three subdivisions to progress through.
You advance up the ranks by extracting from matches with high-value loot. Essentially, when you load in, you’re given an overall loot value target to reach. If you match it, you’ll rank up slightly. If you exceed that target, your gains increase drastically.
Fail to extract, and that value target will be deducted from your ranked progression, making each round extremely important.
There are a few restrictions, though. First, Low-Stakes Zones are accessible from Bronze through Gold tier. You only unlock access to High-Stakes Zones in Platinum, and continue there through to Pinnacle rank.
To even begin a Ranked match, you need a loadout that meets the required gear score. So each comes with inherent risk, as you could lose some high-tier goods if things don’t go your way.
You also then need to purchase a Holotag, according to the leak. These Holotags are extremely valuable. If you kill an opposing player and steal theirs, you’re getting a ton of Credits all at once, and even raising the ceiling on how much value you can extract with in the match.
The available zones are reportedly set to rotate weekly. Some can be entered solo, while others require a team around you.
As for rewards, there will supposedly be a mix of cosmetics, some that can be equipped right away, while others will be handed out at the end of a season.
It’s all sounding quite different from anything we’ve seen in the extraction shooter space thus far. Only time will tell if it pays dividends for Marathon, but we’ll soon be loading into this competitive playlist to find out.
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