Bungie continues to listen to fan feedback almost two weeks after Marathon’s release, starting with the addition of an experimental Duo mode, as well as addressing the controversial changes to gunshot audio ranges.
Marathon Tests Duo Mode as Bungie Responds to Player Feedback
Experimental Duo Mode for Perimeter Map
Marathon will receive a major patch that adds an experimental Duos mode this Wednesday, March 18, at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET. According to Marathon Game Director Joe Ziegler on X (formerly Twitter), "some things will be a bit jank," considering its experimental nature. Prior to this update, Marathon had no duo modes, as Solo and Trios are only available.
The Duos mode will be limited to Perimeter, the game’s first map. Unlike other Marathon maps like Dire Marsh and Outpost, which are reserved for well-kitted and prepared Runners, Perimeter is easier due to its beginner-friendly design, with no toxic plants and less aggressive AI enemies. Players will be able to access this game mode from the zone select screen, listed as "Perimeter Duo."
The experimental game mode will only last for two weeks, though Bungie may end it early or extend it depending on the results. In addition, players who choose to play Duos must enter using premade groups, meaning they need to team up with a friend. There will be no matchmaking with other duos in this mode yet.
Ziegler added that this experiment will not be indicative of the game’s final version and hopes to "expand duos as a queue in the future." This is why the team wants to introduce the much-awaited mode sooner rather than later, so they can better understand how it affects the game, noting that investing in it could end up being more of a bane than a boon if not properly managed.
Bungie to Adjust Controversial Audio Changes
Following Marathon’s major item economy and PvE balance patch 1.0.0.4 last week, it also came with an update that increases the distance at which gunfire can be heard, resulting in more PvP encounters than usual. Many players are not happy with the change, and Bungie is aware of the issue, calling it an "overcorrection."
Bungie said it will attempt to "put things back," though it will not return exactly to the launch version. The team does not want to reduce it to a distance that feels excessive, so it is still searching for the right balance without giving too much advantage to more aggressive PvP players.
In their official announcement on X (formerly Twitter), Bungie did not specify a date for this change. Whether it will arrive alongside the experimental Duos mode this Wednesday or in a later patch remains unclear.
Marathon Designer Addresses False Marketing Accusations
Between the series of fixes and updates for Marathon, one Bungie staff member has grown tired of players constantly criticizing Marathon’s "lukewarm" launch, with some monitoring Steam Chart numbers and jumping on the latest bandwagon of complaints.
An X (formerly Twitter) user called out Bungie for frequently using "From the makers of Halo…" in their marketing, claiming that no one from Halo still works at the studio. It was then that Bungie UI designer Elliot Gray responded by listing numerous individuals who worked on both Halo and Destiny, who are now lending their expertise to Marathon, effectively shutting down the criticism.
The thread continued with two more posts, where Gray highlighted additional team members who were pivotal to the Halo series, one of the most influential first-person shooters of all time.
Marathon has been slowly gaining traction over the past few days, especially with the gradual reveal of its fourth and ambitious map, the Cryo Archives, as part of the game’s map selection pool. There is still no definitive release date for the extraction shooters’ endgame zone, but ARG (Alternate Reality Game) experts are racing against the clock to solve the Marathon conundrum that has challenged puzzle hunters for weeks.
Marathon is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Check out more Marathon content at the link below.
Source:
Marathon Game Director Joe Ziegler Talks Duos
Marathon is Aware of the Audio Changes
Marathon UI Designer Claps Back at Marathon Haters
