Bungie tests duo queue in Marathon extraction shooter

Bungie will introduce an experimental duo queue for its extraction shooter Marathon starting March 18. Game director Joe Ziegler announced the limited-time test on X, allowing pairs to play on the Perimeter map. The two-week trial is opt-in to avoid matching with trios.

Marathon, Bungie's new extraction shooter, currently offers solo play and three-person teams. To address community requests for duos—raised after the Server Slam— the studio is experimenting with an alternative. Revealed by game director Joe Ziegler on X, the duo queue test begins this Wednesday, March 18, as a limited-time addition to the game's first map, Perimeter. It aims to assess how the game performs with crews of two at scale. The test is scheduled for two weeks but could be adjusted in length. Players must opt in, ensuring trio matches remain unaffected. Ziegler cautioned that some elements will feel rough: “Some things will be a bit jank”, with the user experience not yet finalized and potential quirks expected. He described it as “a bit of an experimental feature so we expect to learn some things along the way and make changes to future versions of this. This likely won't be the final implementation of how it would look and flow in the game, but for now it was [the] easiest way for us to get it to you all to help us test.” The team hopes the data will inform a permanent duo queue: “We're excited to run this experiment with you all. Pending what we learn, we're hoping to expand duos as a queue in the future.” This rollout coincides with the addition of the fourth map, Cryo Archive, unlocked via a community ARG. Ziegler indicated more experiments are planned.

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Photorealistic image of duo space marines in Marathon Server Slam action, with Bungie duo queue announcement and Steam top seller stats overlay.
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Bungie responds to feedback after Marathon server slam

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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.

Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter Marathon kicked off its free Server Slam beta on February 26, 2026, across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam. The event, running until March 2, serves as a stress test for servers and offers players a taste of the game's core loop. Early feedback highlights strong visuals and audio, though some controls and combat pacing draw criticism.

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Building on the March 5, 2026 launch confirmation, Bungie has announced a pre-launch server slam beta for its PvPvE extraction shooter Marathon, running from February 26 to March 2. Available for free on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, the test offers limited gameplay ahead of release. PlayStation Plus subscribers can unlock exclusive rewards from other Sony franchises.

Players of Bungie's Marathon have made significant progress over the weekend in solving an alternate reality game puzzle tied to the upcoming Cryo Archive map. By activating terminals on the Perimeter map and coordinating community efforts, they unlocked all camera feeds on a related website. The achievement marks the completion of the first phase in a 13-step process to access the endgame content.

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Bungie has detailed the seasonal structure for its upcoming extraction shooter Marathon, promising free updates that will keep the game evolving. Seasons will last about three months and include new content like maps, gear, and events, with a full reset of player progress at the start of each one. The first season launches alongside the game on March 5.

Bungie has changed the weekly schedules for Cryo Archive and Ranked modes in Marathon to prevent overlap. Cryo Archive will now run from Thursday 10am PT to Sunday 10am PT, with Ranked following from Sunday 10am PT to the next Thursday 10am PT. The update ensures one mode is always available.

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A Kotaku article has compiled 16 brief player anecdotes from Bungie's sci-fi shooter Marathon, highlighting moments of friendship, narrow escapes, and surprises. Published on March 19, 2026, the piece draws from responses to author Zack Zwiezen's call for stories shared the previous day. These tales underscore the game's high-stakes design fostering memorable experiences.

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