Extraction Shooter
Ongoing coverage on Extraction Shooter.
Latest coverage
Consider the lobster? Marathon's first unexpected mystery could be afoot as players puzzle over multi-coloured shellfish
Players in the upcoming Bungie game Marathon have discovered a mysterious, color-changing lobster on Tau Ceti IV. This enigmatic crustacean's hue shifts depending on the player class observing it, sparking community speculation about hidden puzzles or lore implications. The discovery adds to Bungie's tradition of incorporating subtle in-game mysteries.
Does ARC Raiders have cross-play? Everything you need to know about your multiplayer options in the Rust Belt
ARC Raiders fully supports cross-play across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, allowing players on different platforms to matchmake together. The game also features cross-progression, ensuring that unlocks and progression carry over between platforms when signed into the same account. Players have the option to disable cross-play in the settings if they prefer.
Marathon duo queue requests "heard" by Bungie, as Server Slam concludes with a bang
Bungie has acknowledged player feedback following the Marathon Server Slam, confirming they have heard requests for a dedicated duo queue, which is currently not an option. The developers are also considering adjustments to the game's Time-to-kill, consumable economy, and UI based on player input. PC performance fixes are also planned before the game's full release.
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.
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.
What are we all playing this weekend?
Several gaming industry figures shared their weekend gaming plans, including finishing Resident Evil Village, starting new playthroughs of Disco Elysium and Minos, and trying out Steam Next Fest demos. Other titles mentioned include Zero Parades, American Truck Simulator, Love Eternal, Key Fairy, Marathon, and Horizon: Hunters Gathering.
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.
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.
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.
Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky Update Makes Wolfpack Grenades Rare and Valuable — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Embark Studios' latest Arc Raiders update, Shrouded Sky, has made Wolfpack Grenades significantly rarer by requiring Rocketeer Drivers for crafting. This change, along with nerfs to basic weapons like the Venator, Stitcher, and Kettle, has made the game more challenging and less forgiving, sparking player dissatisfaction. The update also introduces new ARC enemy types and map conditions.
Here is the Marathon Server Slam release time, and can you preload?
Bungie's Marathon Server Slam event will run from February 26 to March 2, 2026, with a 10 AM PT start time. There is no preload option available for the Server Slam. The full game is scheduled for release on March 5, 2026.
Arc Raiders Shrouded Sky Update Brings Firefly & Comet ARCs — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
The Shrouded Sky update for Arc Raiders introduces new enemy types, the flying Firefly ARC and the exploding Comet ARC, alongside a map update for Dam Battlegrounds with a Controlled Access Zone. This update also launches the game's second Expedition, offering permanent bonuses for players who reset their accounts, and adds a new free raider deck called The Surgeon.
Arc Raiders is getting a hurricane map condition that will hasten your steps and blow grenades back in your face
Embark Studios is introducing a new hurricane map condition to Arc Raiders on February 24th. This condition will limit visibility, degrade shields, impede movement, and affect throwable trajectories. While challenging, the hurricane will also increase player movement speed with a tailwind and reveal new caches of gear.
Arc Raiders sees 30% player count drop as Marathon looms
Arc Raiders has experienced a significant drop in its player count on Steam, losing nearly a third of its active users in the weeks leading up to the launch of Bungie's rival shooter, Marathon. Despite initial success, daily active users have reportedly halved across all platforms. Embark Studios is planning updates to retain players, but faces a critical test as competition intensifies.
Marathon Server Slam Dates, Content, and Rewards Revealed Ahead of Launch — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Bungie has revealed the dates and content for Marathon's upcoming Server Slam public test, scheduled from February 26 to March 2, 2026. This test will allow players to experience opening quests for five factions, two maps, and solo queue before the game's full launch on March 5, where Season 1 will begin with additional maps and content. Participants in the Server Slam will receive exclusive cosmetic rewards at launch.
Nexon revenue rises 6.5% to $3.1bn in 2025, driven by ongoing success of Arc Raiders
Nexon reported record-breaking revenue of $3.1 billion for 2025, marking the third consecutive year of growth. The company's success was driven by its franchises Dungeon & Fighter and MapleStory, alongside the strong performance of the new extraction shooter Arc Raiders, which has sold over 14 million copies. Despite a slight decrease in operating income due to higher-than-expected costs, Nexon anticipates continued growth in the first quarter of 2026.
