Marathon: No Need for a PlayStation Network Account on Xbox or PC

As the gaming community eagerly awaits the Marathon gameplay reveal set for April 12, Bungie has reassuring news for players using non-PlayStation platforms. The developer has confirmed that gamers on PC and Xbox will be able to dive into Marathon without the need for a PlayStation Network account.

Bungie shared this announcement in a message on the game’s official Discord channel, stirring up a wave of emoji responses—ranging from flames to hearts, and even a quirky pregnant man emoji. One enthusiastic participant remarked, “This is the biggest news for me! Now I can really get excited about the game!”

This announcement comes in the wake of a different approach seen during the launch of Helldivers 2. Sony initially allowed players to link their Steam accounts to a PlayStation Network account temporarily, but this flexibility was short-lived. “The grace period will now expire,” stated Sony, referring to the initial allowance which was due to technical challenges at that game’s launch.

This requirement didn’t sit well with Helldivers 2 players. Many found the process needlessly complicated and, in some regions without access to PlayStation Network, potentially more than just an inconvenience—it was exclusionary. The player backlash was significant enough that Sony reversed their stance after just three days. Despite this initial hiccup, Helldivers 2 continued to perform remarkably well in the market.

With the experiences from Helldivers 2 in mind, it’s understandable why fans anticipating Marathon feared a similar scenario. Even though Sony doesn’t directly publish Marathon, its ownership of Bungie places the game within its sphere of influence. Fortunately, Bungie’s recent assurance has put those worries to rest, allowing players on various platforms to remain excited without needing to create accounts on different systems.

While a release window for Marathon hasn’t been disclosed yet, more details are expected to surface during the upcoming stream on Saturday. We’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for any updates!