Following massive criticism of the server slam, Bungie is responding and promising urgently needed improvements to the UI, PvP, and loot for the upcoming release of the extraction shooter Marathon.
Did you check out the Marathon server slam over the weekend? Bungie’s upcoming sci-fi extraction shooter has divided the community after an extensive testing phase. While some are celebrating its potential, others remain extremely skeptical about the game.
With the release of the finished game just around the corner on March 5, the development studio has now responded quickly. In a new feedback post Bungie openly names the biggest areas for improvement – and announces how the shooter will be saved after launch.
The UI chaos and well-known error codes
One of the biggest points of criticism that will probably catch your eye right away when you first start the game is the completely cluttered user interface. Marathon’s UI is currently extremely complex and anything but beginner-friendly – as our editor-in-chief Dimi also notes in his preview report:
Bungie has recognized this problem, but also admits honestly: There won’t be any magical complete overhaul before the launch in a few days. Instead, the developers promise to continuously adapt and streamline the interface after the release.
PC performance issues and the infamous “Weasel” error codes are also on the studio’s to-do list.
Anyone who has played Destiny or Destiny 2 is likely to have unpleasant memories of these little bugs.
Extraction without action
But it’s not just the menus that are causing the community headaches. Even in the raid itself, where it should be all about survival, there are still noticeable hurdles. Bungie has identified the following three gameplay issues and promised improvements:
- PVP deficiency: An extraction shooter thrives on the constant paranoia of encountering enemy players, but in Marathon, many raids have so far been more like solo shooters. To match the excitement of competitors such as Escape from Tarkov, Bungie is now examining player density and directly increasing the number of players on the entry maps.
- Heat system: Instead of a classic stamina bar, Marathon uses a heat system that slows you down dramatically and punishes you harshly for overly aggressive movement. Because this system currently slows down the flow of the game massively, the development team is already looking into adjustments.
- Too few resources: Ammunition and healing items are currently in extremely short supply on the maps, which quickly becomes frustrating, especially against heavily armored AI enemies. Bungie has promised urgent improvements here so that you won’t be left empty-handed in the middle of the wildest firefights in the future.
Marathon’s Server Slam ends today, March 2, and the official launch is already set for March 5. So time is of the essence. At least it’s a good sign that Bungie is addressing the issues so openly and promising improvements.
What do you think about the announced plans? Did you participate in the Server Slam and do you share the community’s criticism? Do you think Bungie can still turn things around with the upcoming patches? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments!
