marathon Archives

AppWizard

May 15, 2026

A PvE-only mode is coming to Marathon as Bungie lays out plans for seasons 3, 4 and 5

Marathon director Joe Ziegler discussed Bungie's plans for upcoming seasons of Marathon, highlighting the introduction of a new map featuring "alien elements and mind-warping debuffs" and the next Runner shell, Sentinel, which will offer a defensive kit. Two new PvE-focused modes will debut in Season 2: one experimental mode at the beginning of the season that combines PvE with a light touch of PvP, and a second PvE-only mode focused on crew objectives. Ziegler emphasized that while PvE options are being introduced, PvP will remain a core aspect of the game. Further details on Season 2 changes, including faction progression enhancements and new runner stat boosts, will be revealed the week of May 25.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

Bungie is turning Marathon’s loot dial to 11 ahead of its first wipe, opening up Cryo Archive 24/7

Marathon's upcoming "end of season" update will be released on May 19 and will include several key changes to improve gameplay. Locked room keys will now be guaranteed rewards from on-map events, allowing access to coveted loot rooms on Tau Ceti. Map events such as Intercept, Lockdown, Warden spawns, Convoy, and Anomaly will be guaranteed on each run. Warden bosses will appear in more locations, increasing the frequency of room keys. The Cryo Archive entrance restrictions will be removed, and a new Ranked Cryo Archive playlist will be introduced. Faction experience gains will increase, key templates will remain intact if players are downed, wall safes will have a chance to yield deluxe keys, and the Signal Mask ability will have an extended duration while sprinting. Season 2: Nightfall will launch on June 2, introducing a new Night Marsh zone, a fresh Runner shell, new weaponry, and a system for customizing Runner shell stats. Full details will be revealed during the week of May 25.

AppWizard

May 12, 2026

Marathon reconsiders bug abuse approach after player uses Cryo Archive exploit to butcher an entire team

Bungie is reviewing its policies regarding player actions that exploit bugs in Marathon following a viral incident where a player used a flaw in the Cryo Archive map to eliminate another team. The company plans to compensate those affected by this incident and will address the bug before reintroducing the map. Bungie has historically not penalized players for going out of bounds but is considering stricter penalties for deliberate exploitation of bugs that negatively impact others. Since the launch of the Cryo Archive map, players have faced numerous issues, prompting ongoing patches and updates.

AppWizard

May 8, 2026

2K Games confirms layoffs at Project Ethos shooter studio and hints at new design direction: ‘It’s become clear that changes need to be made’

31st Union, a studio under 2K Games, has confirmed layoffs affecting an undisclosed number of employees as it continues development on Project Ethos, a free-to-play hero shooter unveiled in 2024. Studio head Ben Brinkman indicated that changes were necessary to achieve the studio's goals. Project Ethos was initially described as a "roguelike hero shooter," but it allows players to choose randomized buffs during matches and features gameplay similar to Fortnite. The studio's previous head, Michael Condrey, was dismissed shortly after the game's announcement, and updates on Project Ethos have been limited since then. The layoffs at 31st Union follow similar cuts at 2K Games' Cloud Chamber in 2025. Take-Two Interactive's CEO has expressed disappointment over the lengthy development timelines for new titles, including the BioShock installment. Despite these challenges, Brinkman remains optimistic about the future of Project Ethos and the team's direction.

AppWizard

May 4, 2026

Marathon (1994) and Marathon (2026) are at opposite ends of FPS history, but playing them at the same time I’m finding they have a lot in common, despite their vast differences

In a bio-research lab in Dire Marsh, graffiti reading “THAKGODITSYOU. THANKODDITSYOU. THAANKGODITSYOU. THANKOOOITSYOU.” has become notable, appearing in Marathon's promotional art. The modern version of Marathon emphasizes information gathering, similar to its 1994 predecessor, which featured an Alien-inspired motion tracker and a fusion pistol with a distinctive firing mechanism. The game explores themes of disconnection between body and consciousness, with options available in the Aleph One port on Steam to alleviate motion sickness. The lore includes concepts of runners and their shells, highlighting the struggle against disconnection and the pursuit of freedom, as articulated by the character Durandal.

AppWizard

May 2, 2026

As Steam player counts continue to dominate conversations around multiple games, it turns out 45% of you don’t actually care that much for the metric

Nearly 45% of respondents prefer to enjoy their gaming experience without focusing on player counts. About 32% pay attention to these figures, with 15% humorously claiming to be Gabe Newell. Additionally, 13% only monitor player counts when concerned about a game's potential closure, and 10% check them to provoke reactions among fans. The author enjoys tracking player counts but maintains skepticism about their significance in the overall gaming experience.

AppWizard

April 29, 2026

Marathon is looking to save you from grenade spam and being one-shot by the Ares

In the latest update, Marathon version 1.0.6.2, Bungie has adjusted the combat shotgun to address previous over-nerfing. They are extending the Sponsored Dire Marsh queue for at least another week, until May 6, to provide a balanced environment. Bungie is working on adjustments to grenade stock counts and stack sizes due to an overwhelming number of grenades in matches. The Ares railgun has gained popularity after recent buffs, allowing indefinite charge and improved stats, but the Impact Shockwave mod has caused one-shot kills, which Bungie plans to fix. The WSTR weapon's damage nerf was intended to be temporary, and it is expected to perform similarly against AI enemies as before while maintaining its two-shot-kill capability.

AppWizard

April 25, 2026

After a slow start, Last Flag developer says you can’t become the next big hit just by ticking boxes: ‘It’s a slippery slope’

Night Street Games, co-founded by Dan and Mac Reynolds, launched a 5v5 multiplayer shooter called Last Flag, inspired by the capture the flag game mode. The game has received positive reviews on Steam and is priced affordably, but it debuted with fewer than 600 concurrent users, which has since decreased. Mac Reynolds emphasized the studio's focus on creative integrity over chasing trends, aiming to provide a unique gaming experience. Despite the commitment to a creative vision, the game faces challenges in attracting a substantial player base, similar to other recent titles that struggled to maintain engagement. Reynolds believes success should not be solely measured by player numbers, highlighting the team's pride in their work.

AppWizard

April 24, 2026

Former PlayStation head isn’t sure how Sony can recoup those big budgets without first-party games coming to PC

A report suggested that Sony might change its strategy regarding the release of first-party titles on PC, except for online games like Marathon. Shuhei Yoshida, former head of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, stated he has not seen evidence of a change in PlayStation's approach during this console generation. He noted that historically, PlayStation was not allowed to bring AAA games to other platforms, but the rising costs of game development have led to a reevaluation. Yoshida mentioned that releasing first-party titles on PC after a couple of years could help recoup investments. Despite discussions, he does not believe a fundamental strategy shift is occurring. Recent leaks indicated that Marvel's Spider-Man 2 has a budget of 0 million, making it one of the most expensive games ever developed. If certain titles remain absent from PC by the end of 2027 without official communication from Sony, it may clarify the company's strategic direction.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

After 2 years of silence, an extraction shooter we liked back in 2022 for its ‘impeccable vibes’ suddenly springs back to life on Steam

In 2022, Marauders, an extraction shooter, launched in early access on Steam, gaining a notable player base despite not being free-to-play. However, updates ceased after the Retribution update in August 2024, leading to over 20 months without new content. Recently, developers announced they had focused on a comprehensive overhaul of the game, which generated mixed reactions from the community. Some players are hopeful for its revival, as evidenced by 11 pages of comments following the update. The competitive landscape for extraction shooters has intensified with new titles like Arc Raiders and Marathon.