Bungie cracks down on cheaters Marathonand states that it has a zero-tolerance policy for criminals, while reiterating its anti-cheat tools. In recent weeks, Marathon fans have discussed what appears to be an influx of cheaters in the game, either real or perceived. With the game still in a fragile state this close to launch, it makes sense that Bungie would prioritize removing the issue before it starts bleeding players.
Released in March, Marathon has been something of an odd case in the extraction shooter genre. The conversation leading up to launch was largely negative, as Bungie battled plagiarism controversies and critics expressed distaste for the art direction. The conversation improved after Bungie delayed Marathon, and it has begun to carve out some space in the increasingly crowded extraction shooter genre.
Bungie's Marathon is getting an encouraging update
The latest announcement from Bungie appears to be good news for Marathon fans who have been waiting for an update after months of controversy.
Bungie appeals to marathon cheaters
Over on Twitter, the official Marathon the developer account shared an update on “cheats, toxicity and competitive integrity” in the game. The developer stated that it actively bans cheaters and maintains its “zero tolerance” policy for anyone who abuses the game. With that, Bungie also reiterates Marathons reporting tool for cheating and toxic behavior. The most important change is to make it easier to flag suspected cheaters in-game and via web tools.
In the long term, Bungie is focusing on improving voice chat moderation tools to help root out repeat abusers, beyond the tools provided by individual platforms. Bungie is also working to address stream spamming and is working with its trust and security teams for better protection. Potential solutions include anonymity options, which would make it harder for other players to target streamers. The post ends with a call to fans to continue reporting suspicious and malicious behavior.
A level playing field is critical to the long-term health of any game, doubly so for an extraction shooter, where death can set back hours of progress. And Marathons long-term health should be a focus for Bungie, especially this early. Although not a perfect measure, MarathonThe number of players has dropped by 59% since launch, and cheaters may be part of what's driving the decline. The fear is Marathon will shut down if the player count drops too low, which has happened to Harmony and Highguard. But even with the decline, Marathonthe situation doesn't seem nearly as dire.
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Bungie, for its part, has lost Marathon updates at a relatively high rate, introducing minor tweaks and balance changes in addition to bigger drops like the Cryo Archive map. And while the fan worries it Marathon can be shut down is understandable given the current gaming industry landscape, Bungie has committed to sticking to Marathon for the long run.
Anyone who has come across cheaters in Marathon should start collecting and reporting evidence of wrongdoing now. While it may seem like a never-ending battle to remove them from the game, community involvement makes cleaning up a player base much easier, and it leads to a more enjoyable experience for everyone who wants to play Marathon.
- 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
