Marathon
News, coverage and analysis tracking Marathon across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Marathon's Vault Breaker PvE mode is coming in July, and here's the twist: You leave your loot behind
Bungie is introducing a new PvE mode for Marathon called Vault Breaker, set to launch on July 21. This mode allows players to explore the Cryo Archive map solo or in teams, facing escalating challenges without the risk of losing gear. Instead, players will earn Vault Data to upgrade their Sponsored Kits or purchase items for other modes, a design choice that has sparked mixed reactions among critics.
Morning Multiplex
Several games have released new content and trailers, including Hell Galaxy with a new gameplay trailer coming this summer. Marathon's 1.1.0.3 update is live, Rainbow Six Siege features M.U.T.E Protocol: Flesh & Metal gameplay, and RuneScape has released Umbral Sands for Dragonwilds.
Marathon dev Bungie thinks you're getting too much loot, and it wants to change that
Bungie is addressing an issue in Marathon where players are accumulating loot too quickly, leading to "bloated Vaults." The developer is investigating a bug causing higher rarity loot to drop more often than intended, which has resulted in players achieving the equivalent of three months' worth of progression in just two weeks. Bungie has implemented some fixes and progression tweaks, with plans to adjust the loot system further.
The MOP Up: Albion Online teases a new July event
Albion Online is teasing a new event called "Keeper Uprising" for Guild Season 33 starting July 4th, featuring special missions and rewards. This roundup also includes updates from RuneScape, Neverwinter, Entropia Universe, Dungeon Fighter Online, La Tale, Myth of Empires: Throne, Hearthstone, Cave Crave, MapleStory: Idle RPG, Star Trek Online, Mimesis, MechWarrior 5 Mercenaries, MechWarrior Online, Marathon, Persist Online, Planet Crafter, and Teamfight Tactics, covering new content, events, patches, and business changes.
Buffs, Nerfs, and Bugs
Marathon players are experiencing an excessive amount of loot in Season 2, a phenomenon the developers are actively investigating. Separately, StarCraft 2 developers are addressing game balance issues.
Marathon players are amassing way too much loot in Season 2, and the primary cause is a mystery: 'We're still…
Players in Marathon's second season are accumulating excessive amounts of loot, causing an imbalance in the game's economy. Bungie has identified several bugs and contributing factors, including "guaranteed gold drops" and "Sponsored Survival grind," but the primary cause of higher rarity loot proliferation remains elusive. The developer has implemented temporary progression tweaks while investigating the root issue.
Weekend PC Download Deals for June 19: GOG.com Summer Sale
This weekend's PC gaming deals include GOG.com's Summer Sale featuring discounts on titles like Hollow Knight Silksong and Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition. Steam and Epic Games Store also have various sales, with free games available on Epic Games Store and Amazon Luna. Humble Bundle offers several game bundles for different price tiers.
Issues and Activism
Task Bar Hero is experiencing a surge in popularity, but players are reporting what appear to be legitimate bans, with the developer remaining silent on the issue. Separately, Bungie has not addressed promises made to buyers of the Deluxe Edition of Marathon regarding the full game.
PlayStation’s Inconsistency of PC Releases and Lack of Revenue Led to Recent Exclusivity Shift – Rumor
Sony Interactive Entertainment has reportedly shifted its strategy, making single-player narrative games exclusive to PlayStation consoles due to inconsistent PC release performance and insufficient revenue. While live-service titles will still launch on PC alongside PlayStation 5, plans for PC ports of games like Ghost of Yōtei have been scrapped. This decision was apparently made recently, impacting future game releases.
Marathon Season 2 is testing my map knowledge in the most terrifying way: by turning the lights off
Marathon's second season introduces the Night Marsh map, which plunges players into darkness, forcing reliance on spatial memory and sound cues rather than flashlights. This design choice transforms the familiar map into a daunting navigational challenge, emphasizing stealth and positional awareness over direct confrontation. The article highlights how this darkness serves as both a terrifying obstacle and a unique gameplay mechanic, reminiscent of classic stealth titles.
Games Inbox: Do you need to buy a PS5 Pro to play GTA 6?
A reader expresses concern about how Grand Theft Auto 6 will perform on a standard PlayStation 5, speculating that a PlayStation 5 Pro might be necessary. The article also touches on industry topics like Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Capcom's success, and the merits of game remakes versus new titles.
PlayStation’s Marathon Bet Looks Like It’s Already Backfiring
Marathon, Bungie's extraction shooter, is struggling to maintain player numbers on Steam despite a recent season update and a free week, falling significantly from its launch peak. The game's high development cost, estimated at $200-250 million, coupled with Sony's reported $765 million in impairment losses related to Bungie's portfolio, suggests significant financial pressure. The article questions the viability of Marathon as a live-service title given its hardcore PvP focus and the market saturation, especially after Destiny 2's end of support.
Marathon Showcases its Vantage Shell With a New Cinematic Trailer
Bungie released a new cinematic trailer for Marathon showcasing the abilities of the Vandal shell, focusing on atmosphere rather than gameplay. The trailer highlights the Vandal's combat prowess and mobility within the game's setting. The article also touches on the ongoing NIGHTFALL season, new game modes, and Bungie's efforts to increase Marathon's player base, including a recent Open Play Week.
Destiny 2 developer Bungie will be halved in size this summer claims source
Bungie is reportedly planning massive layoffs this summer, potentially affecting at least 50% of its workforce, according to journalist Sylvain Trinel. This follows previous rounds of layoffs and comes amid struggles with the game Marathon and a recent surge in popularity for Destiny 2. Sony Interactive Entertainment, which acquired Bungie in 2022, reported a significant impairment loss related to the studio earlier this year.
Evening Patches
Several games received updates today, including Assassin's Creed Shadows, Killing Floor 3 with its Onslaught Update, and Marathon with update 1.1.0.2. Microsoft Flight Simulator also released its City Update 15 for Illinois.
I wish Bungie would stop designing excellent multiplayer shooters and go back to making fantasy strategy games where you…
This article expresses a desire for Bungie to return to developing strategy games like the Myth series, rather than focusing solely on excellent multiplayer shooters such as their new game Marathon. The author highlights the unique tactical squad management and physics-based combat of Myth, lamenting that the games are not readily available digitally or easily playable on modern systems, unlike Bungie's current output.
Weekend PC Download Deals for June 12: Steam Bullet Fest
This weekend's PC gaming deals include a Steam Bullet Fest celebrating bullet hell and shooter games, alongside sales from various publishers and developers like Capcom, Klei, and Ubisoft. Notable titles on sale include Vampire Survivors, Returnal, and Destiny 2, with free games and bundles also available across platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, and Amazon Luna.
Just what Bungie needed: Marathon Season 2 woes continue as endgame mode Cryo Archive is disabled after players discover…
Bungie has temporarily disabled the Cryo Archive endgame mode in its futuristic shooter Marathon due to an exploit that prevents players from being revived after being downed. This issue follows several other bugs and glitches that have plagued Marathon's second season since its recent launch. The studio is also reportedly facing significant layoffs amidst these ongoing development challenges.
Before you place all the blame on Sony, former Destiny 2 CM says Bungie was 'very close to shutting its doors'…
Former Destiny 2 community manager Liana Ruppert stated that Bungie was on the verge of shutting down before its acquisition by Sony. Ruppert clarified that the studio's financial struggles predated the deal, making the acquisition an emergency measure. Despite Sony's $3.6 billion investment, the studio has faced challenges, including a significant impairment loss related to Destiny 2 and Marathon.
'The Only Way to Keep Bungie Alive Is to Support Marathon,' Ex-Destiny Community Manager Says
A former Bungie community manager believes that supporting the upcoming game Marathon is crucial for the studio's survival, suggesting that issues within the company predate Marathon's development and Sony's acquisition. The manager criticized players for comparing Destiny 2's player count to Marathon's early reception.