MarathonThe 1.0.0.4 update was released yesterday, and while the response was mostly positive, there was one note in particular that had players raising their eyebrows. The note simply stated that Bungie had “increased the range and explosions can be heard from” in Marathonand in practice it hurts the game loop significantly in the eyes of many players.
While it seems that those who were concerned about this particular change were right to be, it's worth repeating that many of this update's tweaks have gone down well with the community. Designed to be a simpler, introductory map, Perimeter has benefited from an increase in medicine cabinets. Marathons thermal scope, which really needed a nerf, was thankfully knocked down a peg. Still, while it's important to highlight the good, constructive criticism is just as important Marathons future — and it seems that many players now have the same criticism to share regarding Marathons sound review.
PSA: Don't pay attention to Marathon's review bombing
Marathon is reviewed on Metacritic, but there is clear evidence that a majority of its negative reviews can be completely ignored.
Marathon's audio overhaul makes PvP exhausting and hinders playstyles
All over social media, threads like the above post from Reddit user Impossible-Finger942 can be found, with players bemoaning the change to gunfire and explosions. Bungie's goal was to increase PvP interactions following complaints from some parties that Marathon the matches were too slow, with few fights, but many players seem to agree that this change was not needed. Maybe Bungie's data indicated that there weren't enough battles between the teams, or maybe the studio was playing with one of the bad faith Marathon criticism from those who don't even play the game, but it's clear that many players preferred the sound as it was before the 1.0.0.4 update was released.
According to frustrated Marathon players, the sound was fairer as it was before, with players being able to hear gunfire one POI away from their current location. This allowed them to gauge where the nearest group was or know if an area nearby is clear of enemy players, and they could avoid or seek out the fight from there. But after the audio overhaul, players can basically hear gunfire all over the map, allowing PvP-obsessed Arachne members to hunt down groups that dare to fire their weapons or use explosives. Normally it was safe to shoot if players correctly gauged that nothing was happening in the nearest POI, but now they are constantly at risk and PvP interactions against aggressive opponents are almost guaranteed.
This change has essentially forced Marathon players to only use their knives against UESC bots, which can be tedious and lead to unnecessary slowdowns when trying to approach stronger bots. The rise of PvP encounters has made strong shells like the assassin feel more necessary as well, as players constantly find themselves in fights where they can feel outmatched. Extraction shooters are supposed to offer a healthy mix of PvP and PvE, but after the audio tweak, Impossible-Finger942's assessment that the game now feels like a “battle royale” masquerading as “something more” seems to be in line with how others feel.
Marathon will hopefully address the audio criticism sooner rather than later
With commenters who feel like Marathons beta testing and Server Slam had already allowed it to find a healthy audio balance, hopefully Bungie will consider reverting the change. While some may like the idea of the “server gathering wherever the first shot is fired” and the winner actually getting to do PvE and “pop a single tower”, others think it will scare off new players and make contracts more frustrating than challenging. Some have also argued that the constant fighting gives them little time to raid, as the maps are small enough that other teams can quickly reach whatever gunfire they hear. Fortunately, Bungie's track record with requested changes has been solid so far.
Marathon issues like Rewards Pass quality, microtransactions, and early game difficulty have all been addressed in the game's first week, with bigger changes like a UI overhaul still being worked on. Obviously, Bungie is listening to complaints, so as long as players continue to make their voices heard, the sound change will ideally be reverted so that Marathon restoring the gameplay loop that many grew to love. For now, all players can do is hope for the best and keep their criticism as constructive as it is loud.
- Released
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March 5, 2026
- ESRB
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Teens/animated blood, language, violence, in-game purchases, user interaction
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
