Marathon
News, coverage and analysis tracking Marathon across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Bungie Responds Quickly to Marathon Microtransactions Backlash, First Patch Will Make the Game Slightly Easier - IGN
Bungie is addressing player backlash regarding Marathon's microtransactions and difficulty. An upcoming patch will adjust the in-game currency, Lux, and credit players who purchased bundles before the change. The update will also include balance adjustments to make the extraction shooter slightly easier, such as increasing the spawn rate of Med Cabinets and Munitions Crates.
Betawatch: Marathon and Equinox Homecoming both enter launch waters
Bungie's new game Marathon and Equinox Homecoming have launched this week, alongside other gaming news including AdventureQuest Worlds Infinity reaching a crowdfunding milestone. The article also provides updates on various games in beta testing and development, detailing their current status and upcoming plans.
What are we all playing this weekend?
Several gaming news staff members share their weekend gaming plans, with titles like Resident Evil 4 Remake, Slay the Spire 2, Forza Horizon 5, Marathon, and SCP Containment Breach being mentioned. Some are revisiting older favorites, while others are diving into new releases or preparing for upcoming games.
Artist Embroiled in Marathon Art Theft Scandal Credited as Visual Design Consultant
Bungie has credited artist Fern Hook, also known as Antireal, as a Visual Design Consultant for the game Marathon, following a dispute over art asset usage. The studio conducted a review after it was found that assets created by Hook were used without proper credit or consultation. The issue has since been resolved to Hook's satisfaction, with the terms of compensation remaining undisclosed.
Marathon day two check-in: Into the Outpost, an overpowered shotgun, and why I love doors
The author provides a check-in after 10 hours playing Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon, highlighting enjoyment of the PvP trios mode and the new Outpost map. The article also discusses the effectiveness of the double-barrel shotgun and the ongoing community puzzle potentially leading to a fourth map, Cryo Archive.
How to complete Install UV Protocol from secure room and tag marked locations in Marathon – Protect/Destroy 3 guide
This guide details how to complete the Protect/Destroy 3 contract in Marathon. It breaks down the two main objectives: installing the UV Protocol from a secure room in the southwest Intersection and tagging three marked locations across Dire Marsh. The guide provides specific steps and visual cues for locating these objectives within the game.
Issues and Activism
Veteran developer Greg Costikyan has criticized the GDC 2026 "Festival of Gaming" rebrand, calling it out amidst a significant industry crisis. The article also touches on issues with The Marathon's battle pass, suggesting it is poorly implemented.
Easter Eggs
Following the successful launch of Slay the Spire 2, the development studio issued an apology for a joke made about the game Marathon, acknowledging it was perceived as mean-spirited. The studio is addressing player feedback and ensuring a positive community environment.
How to complete Inject the Necrotic Sample in Flight Control in Marathon – Introducing: Sekiguchi guide
This guide details how to complete the "Introducing: Sekiguchi" contract in Marathon. It breaks down the two main tasks: injecting the Necrotic Sample in southern Flight Control and scanning your shell in the southeastern Orientation, providing step-by-step instructions for each objective within the Outpost map.
It's a happy ending for the artist whose work was stolen by Bungie and used in Marathon: She's credited in the…
Bungie has been accused of stealing artwork from artist Antireal for use in its upcoming game Marathon, a situation made worse by similar accusations regarding Destiny 2. The studio admitted to the theft, stating it was committed by a former employee, and has promised a review of Marathon's assets.
Marathon secret hunters hit their first gold mine: Spooky terminals, a hidden website, and a Durandal audio log
Bungie's new game Marathon is already featuring community-driven puzzles and alternate reality games, with players discovering hidden terminals and an audio log from the AI Durandal. These clues point towards the 'Cryo Archive,' an upcoming map that appears to be similar to a Destiny raid. The community has also uncovered a hidden website related to the ARG, which Bungie has officially linked to.
Slay the Spire 2 dev celebrates its instant success by reminding players to support 'small indie passion…
Slay the Spire 2 has achieved significant success since its early access launch on March 5, topping Steam's best-seller charts with over 224,000 concurrent players. Developer Mega Crit is reminding players to support "small indie passion projects" and plans to keep the game in early access for one to two years, adding new content.
Marathon PS5 User Reviews Remarkably Positive After String of Live Service Disasters
Marathon has received a largely positive user reception on the PlayStation Store and Steam, with a 4.77 rating from 3k reviews on PS Store and 'Very Positive' on Steam. This contrasts with the mixed reviews for other recent live service shooters like Highguard and Concord. While player retention remains to be seen, Marathon had a strong launch day player count on Steam.
Does Marathon have duos? Matchmaking modes, explained
Marathon currently does not feature a dedicated duos matchmaking mode, launching instead with an exclusive trios queue. Players can queue solo or in duos by disabling party fill, but will still be matched against trios. Bungie has acknowledged player feedback regarding duos matchmaking and is considering it for future updates.
What are Schemas in Marathon?
Schemas in the game Marathon are vouchers that allow players to purchase specific weapons and items from the Armory at any time, bypassing stock or faction availability. These items are unlocked through the season one Rewards Pass using SILK, the free in-game currency. Each Schema can be used up to three times and may be subject to seasonal wipes.
Marathon players rip ‘worst value for your money’ battle pass, and they definitely have a point
Players of Bungie's new live-service shooter Marathon are criticizing its first battle pass, calling it the "worst value for your money." Concerns include the lack of premium currency rewards and the overall low quality of cosmetic items offered, especially compared to other live-service titles. Players are urging others to not purchase the pass to send a message to the developer.
Marathon's aura-farming NPCs show just how bland and lifeless Arc Raiders' AI-voiced characters really are
This article compares the character presentation in Bungie's upcoming game Marathon with Embark Studios' Arc Raiders. While Arc Raiders features bland, AI-voiced characters, Marathon distinguishes itself with stylized intro cinematics and strong voice acting for its faction representatives, creating a more engaging and memorable experience.
Slay the Spire 2's launch has been so incredibly successful, the studio had to apologise for a joke about Marathon that now "seems a bit meaner than it was intended"
Mega Crit co-founder Casey Yano apologized for a joke made about Bungie's Marathon after Slay the Spire 2's launch significantly surpassed Marathon's concurrent player count on Steam. While Marathon launched on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, Slay the Spire 2, a PC-only release, achieved over 430,000 concurrent players compared to Marathon's peak of 88,000.
Engagement Ring
Marathon's launch player numbers on PC are approximately half of those seen during the Server Slam event. This indicates a lower initial engagement for the game compared to its previous beta test.
Issues and Activism
An artist has come forward, stating that Bungie used their work in the game Marathon without permission. This situation highlights issues of copyright and artist attribution within the game development industry.