The PlayStation week brought several smaller but interesting news items that together showcase the breadth of Sony's current strategy. While Bungie is trying to attract new players to Marathon, Hello Games continues to impressively expand No Man’s Sky, Sony is testing the mobile terrain with MLB The Show Mobile, and the Days of Play promotion brings free PSN avatars.
Bungie's Marathon will be free to play on PlayStation 5 from June 2 to June 9, 2026, without the need for a PlayStation Plus subscription. The free week coincides with the start of the second season, which brings a new map, a new character class, seasonal challenges, and a reset of equipment progress, so new players won't be at a significant disadvantage right away. Bungie also announces faster faction progression, a larger Vault, and a number of smaller quality-of-life improvements.
No Man’s Sky has received a new major free expansion called The Swarm. The update introduces a new threat, Hive of Glass, which can destroy fleets of cargo ships and potentially space stations. Players will fight through factions, track shared progress from the Nexus, and participate in new space battles against swarms of drones. Planetary activities have also been added, including exploration of downed drones.
Meanwhile, Sony has globally launched MLB The Show Mobile for iOS and Android. The mobile version relies on elements familiar from the Diamond Dynasty mode but adapts them for shorter matches and a card system. The game includes quick challenges, Head to Head competitions, and shorter seasons with three-inning games, which is a more logical format for mobile gaming.
Finally, as part of the Days of Play 2026 promotion, PlayStation is distributing free PSN avatars from the games Baby Steps, Cairn, and Lumines Arise. Codes are entered through the PlayStation Store, and for the European region, the code AAET-4A2C-LLNP is valid.
