As such, Bungie has now provided a list of what they're working on during this Marathon delay period, and I thought it would be worthwhile to go through each point and break them down. Let's dive in:

Upping the Survival Game

More challenging and engaging AI encounters – This is something Bungie had already mentioned during the Alpha phase, testing out more intense enemy AI behavior, and they reiterated this in the most recent livestream. A stronger, more consistent AI presence could help set Marathon apart from its competitors and potentially satisfy some PvE cravings among segments of the playerbase. It’s also worth noting that additional AI factions like the Pfhor are planned, possibly arriving by the new release date.

More rewarding runs, with new types of loot and dynamic events – We were always expecting “new types of loot” since the Alpha held a lot back, but now I’m curious if this means things like high-tier gear with unique perks or even entirely new equipment slots. Having more valuable rewards could make shorter runs feel more worthwhile. More dynamic events might include environmental changes like weather shifts, enemy spawns, or interactive elements such as supply drops—features that would definitely be welcomed.

Making combat more tense and strategic – This seems to indicate a shift toward the more hardcore side of the extraction genre, moving away from feeling like a slower-paced Apex Legends and leaning more into tactical engagements. Bungie has already discussed narrowing the gap between well-geared and under-geared players so matches aren’t one-sided stomps. That said, this doesn’t seem aimed at casual players—it’s clearly intended to deepen the challenge for veterans.

Doubling Down on the Marathon Universe

Increased visual fidelity – This was pretty much expected. The Alpha wasn't visually impressive since it was unfinished, with many areas—especially outdoor environments and character models—needing significant polish. I'm interested to see how far the visuals progress before launch.

More narrative and environmental storytelling to discover and interact with – At the moment, there's very little of this present in the game. Most of the story comes through vendor dialogue, with almost nothing embedded into the maps themselves. Adding lore into the environment would be a welcome change. However, I doubt it will strongly appeal to dedicated PvP players, nor do I think it will be enough to pull PvE-focused players in by itself.

A darker tone that delivers on the themes of the original trilogy – This one is a bit confusing. From what’s currently in the game, I do think the existing lore is dark and carries over the themes from the original series. The main issue fans have with Marathon not "feeling" like Marathon is more about how different it looks and plays compared to the original—and that’s unlikely to change. There’s no way they’re going to make it look like that image three paragraphs up, that much is clear.

Adding more social experiences

A better player experience for solos/duos – One of the biggest complaints about Marathon so far has been the lack of a solo-only playlist, forcing lone players to fight against full squads of three. However, this phrasing doesn’t confirm that’s what’s coming. Bungie has previously stated they want to improve the experience for solo and duo players, which might mean introducing those playlists—but it’s not guaranteed based on this wording.

Prox chat, so social stories can come to life – Many people were surprised when Marathon launched without proximity chat, a feature common in most extraction shooters. Given Sony’s tendency to exclude similar features in other titles, it’s possible this was a platform-related limitation rather than a technical one. Supposedly, it’s on the way, though I remain doubtful that it’ll be as impactful for Marathon as some fans claim, especially given how different its combat loop is from something like Tarkov. Still, the option should exist regardless.

I’m trying to stay somewhat optimistic here, but I still don’t believe these changes will be enough in the end. Time will tell.

The above is the detailed content of What Bungie Will Add To 'Marathon' After Its Announced Delay. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!