Marathon Deluxe Edition discount offers free-trial players bonuses without the full game, confusion ensues
Marathon’s Deluxe Edition has caused confusion among PlayStation players who purchased a discounted version of the cosmetic package, only to discover it does not include the base game itself. The Deluxe Edition contains bonus items and perks for the free-to-play game, but does not grant access to Marathon after the free trial expires.
Players who bought the discounted Deluxe Edition believed they were purchasing a complete game bundle, but Bungie has now updated the game’s listing and legal pages to clarify that the package only includes cosmetic content and perks. To continue playing Marathon after the trial period ends, players must purchase the full game separately, even if they’ve already bought the Deluxe Edition.
The confusion appears to stem from how PlayStation handles bundles and free-to-play trials on their platform. This situation highlights the ongoing challenges that free-to-play games and their monetisation structures present to consumers, particularly when different purchase tiers and what they include aren’t clearly differentiated at point of sale.