Bungie released a patch for Marathon on March 31 that eliminates a slide-canceling movement technique used by players. The update also modifies the Outpost area to enhance fairness and intensity. This comes as the game marks its one-month anniversary.
Players in Marathon had been exploiting a slide-canceling method to gain and maintain momentum without overheating, often by pulling out a weapon or using the Thief’s grapple during slides. Bungie addressed this in its March 31 update, removing the exploit to uphold fairness in the extraction shooter. The development team emphasized that rapid repositioning must carry a cost, such as heat buildup or increased risk. They stated, “One of our core philosophies for Marathon is that rapid repositioning and aggression must always have a meaningful cost... Unbounded movement, while expressive and clip-worthy, is ultimately unhealthy for the pace of play we want to maintain for Marathon.” Bungie plans to scrutinize future movement exploits similarly. The patch also retunes the Outpost, reopening the Destroyed Wing entrance and updating security credentials for the Hub’s locked room. The Hub now features bullet-proof glass, and loot quality has been improved across the location. Marathon announced the changes on social media, noting fixes for slide canceling and multiple Outpost adjustments. As Marathon reaches its one-month milestone, this light patch precedes a larger mid-season balance update expected in April. Season 2, set for June, will introduce a new loadout system, a revised Dire Marsh, and a new Runner Shell.