Marathon
News, coverage and analysis tracking Marathon across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Bungie reportedly had "5 or 6 games" in development, including Marathon and Destiny 2 – but most fell apart after Sony's $3.6 billion acquisition
Bungie reportedly had five or six games in development, including Marathon and Destiny 2, but most were canceled following Sony's $3.6 billion acquisition. These projects were a key part of Sony's interest in acquiring the studio, but ultimately, most were scrapped due to various reasons, with only a few, like Project Gummy Bears, remaining in some form of development.
Horizon Hunters Gathering reportedly scrapping live service elements following closed beta
Guerilla Games is reportedly overhauling its upcoming game Horizon Hunters Gathering, removing live service elements like microtransactions following negative feedback from its closed beta. The game will shift to a more standard co-op multiplayer experience with a smaller scope. Its fate remains uncertain as it must impress PlayStation executives by December.
Sony reportedly reverses course on live service co-op Horizon game after 'negative player feedback'
Sony has reportedly instructed Guerrilla Games to pivot its upcoming live service co-op game, Horizon Hunters Gathering, into a more traditional co-op experience with a story and smaller scope following negative player feedback in recent playtests. The studio has been given until December to impress executives with the rebooted concept, or the project may be canceled, joining other live service games Sony has previously scrapped. Many developers from the project have been moved to work on the next single-player Horizon game.
Sony gives up on yet another live service game as Horizon Zero Dawn 3 news leaks
Sony Interactive Entertainment's live service game strategy continues to falter, with the Horizon multiplayer spin-off, Hunters Gathering, reportedly being retooled into a traditional co-op game due to poor testing feedback. Many of Sony's planned live service titles have failed or face uncertain futures, leading to speculation about the delay of future single-player Horizon titles.
Report: Live-service removed from Horizon Hunters Gathering following negative player feedback
Guerrilla Games is reportedly removing live-service elements from its upcoming co-op title, Horizon Hunters Gathering, due to negative player feedback. The game is being redesigned as a traditional multiplayer experience with a story mode and a reduced scope. This change follows PlayStation's broader challenges with live-service games, including cancellations and studio closures.
Horizon Hunters Gathering is reportedly no longer a live service game following negative feedback
Horizon Hunters Gathering has reportedly been rebooted to remove its live service elements following negative feedback from early playtests. Developer Guerilla Games is overhauling the game into a more traditional multiplayer co-op experience with a story mode and smaller scope. This marks another setback for Sony's live service ambitions, with the game needing to impress executives by December.
Marathon's limited time Ordnance Heist is a multi-run and map event that nets you a cool gun you can't keep
Bungie has launched a new limited-time event for Marathon called Ordnance Heist, running from August 18th to September 1st. This event focuses on completing multiple runs across various maps to acquire the exclusive Firestorm power weapon, which features custom mods but cannot be kept after extraction. While the Firestorm is temporary, it will persist as a possible drop in Supply Drops on specific zones after the event concludes.
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam director says games need "friction" to thrive, and this shooter is proof
Hell Let Loose: Vietnam offers an immersive and intense first-person shooter experience that emphasizes teamwork and strategic decision-making. Director Paul Rustchynsky highlights the importance of "friction" in games to enhance enjoyment and player mastery. The game's asymmetric design, featuring distinct factions like the NVA and US Armed Forces, contributes to its unique and engaging gameplay.
Thanks to the New Vault Breaker Co-Op Mode, I Can Finally Appreciate Marathon’s Most Intriguing Map
The limited-time Vault Breaker co-op mode in Marathon, ending August 18, offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the Cryo Archive map's design. This experimental PvE mode allows players to explore the map's intricacies without the pressure of PvP combat.
Marvel’s Wolverine Has Given Us Sony’s Best-Looking PS5 Ever
Sony has unveiled a new limited-edition PlayStation 5 console and controller bundle inspired by the upcoming game Marvel's Wolverine. The "Battle Yellow" design features artwork by Jock and will be available on September 15, coinciding with the game's launch. This release marks a departure from Sony's recent trend of less distinctive limited-edition hardware for the PlayStation 5.
Even after 200 hours, Marathon's greatest secret is still deciphering the rhythms of rival players
This analysis delves into the strategic nuances of Bungie's extraction shooter, Marathon, after over 200 hours of gameplay. It highlights how understanding player rhythms, sound cues, and map flow is crucial for survival and success, even when direct combat is lost. The article emphasizes that victory in Marathon is defined by player objectives, such as completing contracts or exfiltrating safely, rather than solely by eliminating opponents.
Something for the Weekend – 01/08/26
This week's gaming news includes Sony's cautious approach to physical media, Nvidia's reported graphics card price increase, and Double Fine regaining independence with layoffs. New game announcements include Thimbleweed Park 2 and a Croc 2 remaster, with Crazy Taxi: World Tour and Marathon's PvE mode receiving updates. PlayStation Plus August 2026 Essential games were revealed, and Xbox Network experienced downtime due to a licensing service issue.
Evening Reading - July 31, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers several industry updates, including PlayStation's cautious approach to ending physical disc support, Razer's acquisition of StreamElements, and Unity supplying Netflix Games with a dedicated engine. Nexus Mods updated its guidelines for generative AI tagging, Dragon's Dogma 2 will feature a Hard Mode, and various download deals are available for PlayStation and PC.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 31: Bethesda celebrates 40 years
Bethesda Softworks is celebrating its 40th anniversary with significant sales across its game catalog, including popular franchises like Doom, Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Quake. Numerous PC storefronts like Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.com are participating, offering discounts on individual titles and bundles. Additionally, several free games are available for a limited time on platforms such as Amazon Luna.
What We Played – MineGeon, Black Ops & Heave Ho 2
Several individuals shared their recent gaming experiences, including playing Heave Ho 2, 33 Immortals, Infinite Wealth, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Others reviewed titles like Planet Crafter, The Relic: First Guardian, The Mound, and Moonlight Peaks. Additionally, Call of Duty: Black Ops on PlayStation 5 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 were highlighted.
Has 'Xbox 360 brown' nostalgia finally arrived?
The article discusses the potential return of 'Xbox 360 brown,' a trend characterized by desaturated colors and gritty themes that emerged in the mid-2000s. While acknowledging that current games like Gears of War: E-Day still incorporate this aesthetic, the author suggests a full revival is unlikely but a moderate comeback of low-saturation grime could be a natural evolution following current trends like PS1-style low-poly models.
Bungie will keep Marathon’s Vault Breaker PvE mode online
Bungie has announced that the experimental PvE mode 'Vault Breaker' for their extraction shooter Marathon will remain online until August 18th, extending beyond its original July 21st to August 4th window. This decision comes after positive player engagement and feedback, with the mode offering a glimpse into Marathon's PvE future and allowing players to explore the Cryo Archive map.
Marathon adjusts the solo queue for its PvE roguelike mode and applies a small list of fixes
Marathon has adjusted its solo queue for the PvE roguelike mode, Vault Breaker, to be less punishing for solo players by reducing enemy aggression and increasing critical damage. The update also includes various bug fixes for issues like unclaimable rewards and UI problems. A double XP weekend is scheduled from July 31st to August 3rd.
Marathon’s Vault Breaker disappoints, but there’s still hope for Season 3
Bungie's new time-limited Vault Breaker PvE mode in Marathon, while offering a glimpse into the game's sci-fi universe without player threats, is not a successful solution for the game's current issues. The mode, set in the Cryo Archive, is difficult for new players to grasp and its progress does not carry over to the core game, limiting its appeal. Despite this, the article suggests that Season 3 holds promise for Marathon with a dedicated PvE experience and core game improvements.
Evening Patches
Recent updates include the July hotfix for Conan Exiles Enhanced (2.0.2) and Marathon's 1.1.5.1 update. Mirror's Edge also received DLSS and Frame Generation support on PC, 17 years after its initial launch.