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Season 1: Death is the First Step — Full Breakdown

March 5, 20261 min read

Season 1 Overview

Marathon's inaugural season sets the foundation for everything to come. "Death is the First Step" introduces the core gameplay loop, all seven Runner shells, the complete weapon arsenal, and three explorable zones on Tau Ceti IV.

Zones

Perimeter

The outermost ring of the colony. A mix of industrial ruins and overgrown wilderness, Perimeter is the most accessible zone with four extraction points and relatively manageable AI threats. Ideal for learning the ropes and gearing up.

Dire Marsh

Treacherous wetlands filled with hostile fauna and higher-value loot. Three extraction points and more aggressive enemy patrols make this a medium-risk, medium-reward zone. Teams should come prepared.

Cryo Archive (Community Unlock)

The crown jewel of Season 1. Located aboard the UESC Marathon ship itself, the Cryo Archive is the endgame zone — extreme danger, the best loot in the game, and only two extraction points. This zone is locked behind a community-wide unlock objective, requiring collective player effort to access.

Factions and Contracts

Six factions compete for influence on Tau Ceti IV. Each offers a unique contract system with reputation progression and exclusive rewards:

CyberAcme — Cybernetic augmentation specialists
NuCaloric — Supply chain controllers
Traxus — Heavy industry and infrastructure
MIDA — Independence movement turned militant org
Arachne — Information brokers and digital operatives
Sekiguchi Genetics — Biotech and genetic research

Completing faction contracts earns reputation, unlocking exclusive gear, weapon mods, and cosmetics. Choosing which factions to prioritize is a key strategic decision each season.

Looking Ahead

Ranked mode arrives mid-March. Season 2 "Nightfall" is already teased with night raids, a new Runner shell, and the Cradle build system. The seasonal reset model means everyone starts fresh — check our Season 1 Day One guides for the best start strategies.