How do Marathon's seasonal wipes work?

What Bungie is resetting and why

Bungie has made it explicit that Marathon will run on a seasonal cadence of roughly three months, and each season will reset player progression. That means gear, contracts, faction progression and player level are wiped at the end of a season so every player starts the next one on a clean slate.

How the seasons will be structured - Season length: Seasons are quarterly in practice — the first season runs until June, the second until August in Bungie’s roadmap — and updates arrive across each season. - What’s wiped: Player levels, loot, active contracts, and faction progress are explicitly reset. - What’s delivered: Bungie says new maps, modes, events and gear will arrive in each season, and that core seasonal content will be free for all players.

Why Bungie chose wipes The stated rationale is fairness and design intent: wiping progression prevents legacy advantages from compounding across seasons and keeps each season competitive and approachable for newcomers. It also lets the developers introduce meaningful changes without the balancing headache of legacy carryover.

Player impact and practical considerations Seasonal wipes change how players invest time and perceive long-term progression. For some players the promise of fresh starts and equal footing every season is energizing; for others, losing earned equipment and levels can feel punitive. Developers will need to strike a balance between offering compelling short-term rewards and ensuring players feel their time matters.

Open questions Bungie has been clear about most gameplay resets, but it hasn’t fully clarified which permanent unlocks—if any, such as cosmetics or paid purchases—will carry over between seasons. That detail will be crucial for how players react to the wipe model once the full launch unfolds.