Bungie has acknowledged player requests for duo queue mode following the conclusion of the Marathon Server Slam. The event showcased strong gunplay and a mysterious in-game element, boosting the game to third on Steam's top sellers list. The full launch is set for March 5, 2026.
The Marathon Server Slam, a weekend playtest for Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter, wrapped up on March 2, 2026, with developers addressing key community feedback in a recap post. Currently, matchmaking supports only solos and trios, leaving pairs without a dedicated option, but Bungie confirmed it has "heard" calls for duo queue, similar to requests seen in rival Arc Raiders.
Other adjustments under consideration include key unbinding for console players, tweaks to time-to-kill (TTK) balanced by potential changes to player density, and refinements to medical consumable and ammo economies amid complaints about rapid depletion. UI elements, such as menus and the in-game HUD, drew confusion, while PC performance issues are slated for fixes ahead of launch.
Player impressions highlighted Marathon's premium gunplay, rooted in Bungie's Halo and Destiny heritage. After initial hurdles with inventory navigation, testers praised fast, fierce combat where shields crumble quickly, evoking Apex Legends in squad play. Weapons like the V11 Punch mirror the Halo energy pistol's charged shots, and details such as a digital skull on kills enhance the sci-fi ultra-violence. Solo queue proved engaging due to sharp action bursts.
A quirky discovery added intrigue: a lobster on Tau Ceti IV changes color by player class—blue for Assassin, red for Triage, green for Destroyer—sparking community speculation on lore ties to Runners or hidden puzzles, as shared by user AkiAndFam on X.
Reception mixed, with some doubters convinced by the test, while others remained skeptical. Quantitatively, Marathon climbed to third on Steam's Top Sellers, surpassing Arc Raiders but trailing Counter-Strike 2 and Resident Evil Requiem.