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Bungie share top feedback from Marathon's playtest, including PC performance, UI issues and ammo shortages
Bungie has shared key feedback from the recent Marathon "server slam" playtest, addressing player concerns regarding PC performance, UI issues, and ammo economy. The developer is investigating reports of high CPU usage, low GPU utilization, and stuttering, while also acknowledging feedback on PvP frequency and movement mechanics. Network issues, specifically "Weasel" error codes, are also under investigation.
Marathon Server Slam Impressions – Strong Gunplay Held Back by a Rough First Day — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Marathon's Server Slam offered over 20 hours of gameplay, highlighting Bungie's signature gunplay but struggling with a steep learning curve and an intimidating UI. While the core shooting mechanics are strong, the extraction shooter's complex systems and lack of clear onboarding may deter new players, despite efforts to mitigate 'gear fear' with free loadouts and a risk-free Shell. The game shows potential, especially after the initial friction, but its rough first-day experience raises concerns for its March 5th launch.
Here's some of the most-played demos during Steam Next Fest - February 2026 edition
Valve has revealed some of the most played game demos during the Steam Next Fest event, which concludes on March 2nd. Popular titles include Marathon, Burglin' Gnomes, Windrose, Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard, and Wanderburg. Some games will retain their demos after the event concludes.
Marathon dev Bungie responds to Server Slam feedback, particularly around UI, PC performance, and more
Bungie is addressing player feedback from Marathon's Server Slam, focusing on UI improvements, PC performance issues, and network error codes. The developer is gathering input on various aspects including PvP frequency, movement, and in-game economy to ensure a smooth launch on March 5th.
Citing Halo, FEAR, and Half-Life 2 as inspirations, Sprawl: Zero waves goodbye to boomer shooters and heralds the…
Sprawl Zero is a newly announced first-person shooter inspired by classic titles like Halo: Combat Evolved, FEAR, and Half-Life 2. Developed by MAETH, the game features time and gravity manipulation mechanics, advanced enemy AI, and a visual style reminiscent of early 2000s blockbusters. The game aims to move beyond the 'boomer shooter' trend with its 'Millennial shooter' approach, though a release date has not yet been announced.
Mass pre-order cancellations have gamers wondering: Is Marathon the next Concord?
Marathon is experiencing a significant player drop following its Server Slam event, with player counts falling drastically from a peak of 144,000 to around 60,000. This decline, coupled with criticism of its UI, art style, and gameplay, has led to pre-order cancellations and demands for a price reduction. The game's struggles are contrasted with ARC Raiders, which maintains a much higher player count, raising concerns about Marathon's future in the extraction shooter genre.
Best New Xbox And Game Pass Games For March 2026
March 2026 is set to be a significant month for Xbox and Game Pass subscribers, with a diverse lineup of new releases. The month features sequels like Planet of Lana II, extraction shooters such as Marathon, and RPGs like GreedFall: The Dying World and Crimson Desert. Other notable titles include the tactical stealth game Sumerian Six, the chaotic co-op shooter John Carpenter's Toxic Commando, and the narrative adventure Life is Strange Reunion.
Marathon outsells Arc Raiders in launch week as Bungie's latest is not a flop
Bungie's Marathon has seen strong interest during its free Server Slam playtest, performing well on Steam's top sellers list and Twitch viewership, surpassing Arc Raiders in concurrent players. Despite a tumultuous development, the extraction shooter's early performance indicates positive player engagement ahead of its March 5 launch.
Next Week on Xbox: New Games for March 2 to 6
This week's Xbox releases include Marathon, Planet of Lana II, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered, and Scott Pilgrim EX, among many others. Several titles are optimized for Xbox Series X|S and available on Game Pass, offering a diverse range of genres from action RPGs to puzzle games.
Sony pivoting to single-player games and away from PC ports claim insiders
Insiders suggest Sony Interactive Entertainment is pivoting its strategy, potentially focusing more on single-player games and reducing PC ports of its titles. This shift, which may take several years to fully manifest, comes as the company continues its pursuit of live service game success with titles like Marathon and Horizon Hunters Gathering.
Marathon removes Arc Raiders chat censorship, but it's got much bigger issues to solve
Bungie has addressed an issue where text chat in their upcoming game Arc Raiders was initially censored. While the censorship has been removed, the article suggests the game faces larger development challenges.
Arc Raiders responds to Marathon with strict one-strike cheater ban policy
Embark Studios has updated Arc Raiders' anti-cheat policy to a strict one-strike permanent ban for confirmed cheaters, a significant shift from its previous three-strike system. This move mirrors Bungie's zero-tolerance approach for its upcoming game Marathon, indicating an industry trend towards harsher penalties in the competitive extraction shooter genre.
Marathon Server Slam stirs Steam with nearly 150,000 concurrent players day one, and that's not counting console participation
Bungie's sci-fi extraction shooter Marathon saw a strong turnout during its Server Slam beta, with nearly 150,000 concurrent players on Steam alone. The final public beta, available on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, aims to gauge player interest ahead of the March 5th launch. The game's performance is being compared to the successful beta of Arc Raiders.
Marathon may actually have a shot as Server Slam hits it big on Steam
Bungie's upcoming game Marathon saw a significant surge in players during its Server Slam open beta on Steam, reaching a peak of over 143,000 concurrent players. This turnout is encouraging for the game's development and suggests a potentially strong launch on March 5 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, especially when compared to the performance of similar titles like Arc Raiders.
Marathon – Open Beta (PC, Xbox & Playtstation) | Alpha Beta Gamer
An open beta for Marathon, a PvPvE extraction shooter from the creators of Halo and Destiny, is now available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation 5. Players take on the role of bio-cybernetic Runners, scavenging for loot in a derelict colony while engaging in tense exploration and fast-paced combat. The playtest allows for both solo and crewed infiltration, with proximity chat enabling temporary alliances and betrayals. The beta will conclude on March 2nd.
Free Play Days – Marathon (Server Slam), Atari 50: Anniversary Celebration, The Sinking City Remastered and More
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, and Essential members can play Atari 50: Anniversary Celebration, Stuffed, Moving Out 2, and Anno 117: Pax Romana for free from February 26 to March 1. Additionally, The Sinking City Remastered and Marathon Server Slam are available for all Xbox members during specific Free Play Days events.
Marathon reveals one final character trailer ahead of its server slam test - the humble Rook
Bungie has released a new trailer for Marathon, showcasing the character 'Rook', a scavenger focused on looting. This trailer precedes the game's Server Slam test, which runs from February 26th to March 2nd and allows free play before the official March 5th release. Bungie also recently detailed their anti-cheat measures for the upcoming extraction shooter.
Ex-Radical Entertainment, Hothead Games devs form new studio
Veteran developers from Radical Entertainment and Hothead Games have formed a new studio called New Radical Games. Ian Wilkinson, former CEO of Radical Entertainment, and Tim Bennison, former COO of Hothead Games, are leading the new venture. The studio aims to specialize in remastering classic games for modern hardware.
Bungie says cheaters will be banned without a second chance in upcoming Marathon game
Bungie has announced a zero-tolerance policy for cheaters in its upcoming multiplayer shooter Marathon, stating that any player found cheating will be permanently banned without a second chance. The game will utilize authoritative dedicated servers and other security measures to ensure fair play, though an appeals process will be available for wrongly flagged players.
Don't fancy trying Marathon this weekend? Lucky you, as there's now the chance to have a go at Horizon Hunters Gathering
Guerrilla Games' live service spin-off, Horizon Hunters Gathering, will hold a playtest from February 27th to March 1st. Players can sign up via PlayStation's beta program, though participation is not guaranteed. The playtest will be available on PC via Steam and PlayStation 5 during specific time slots.
