Marathon just launched, and Bungie is already making changes based on player feedback. Such quick updates aren’t uncommon for live service shooters, but the swift response demonstrates Bungie’s commitment to the community.
Balance can make or break extraction shooters. Even minor adjustments to audio, performance, or progression may dramatically shift how a run unfolds. In the first weeks since Marathon’s launch, players have eagerly shared what they love and what could be better, calling out both strengths and opportunities for growth.
Several upcoming changes have now been confirmed by Bungie. Some promise minor quality-of-life improvements; others might significantly change the core feel of Marathon.
Let’s break down the biggest updates Bungie has announced and what they mean for the future of the game.
Combat Audio Is Being Adjusted
One of the most discussed issues since launch has been the range of combat audio.
When players start fighting, the gunfire currently echoes across long distances, drawing others in and turning minor skirmishes into chaotic brawls. The studio initially increased audio range to improve situational awareness, but it sometimes leaves fighters feeling like they’re broadcasting their position far and wide.
The developers say they’ll lower the audio range in a future update, while keeping enough sound cues so players can still react to nearby fights.
For players who prefer stealthy runs or slower looting strategies, this change could make a big difference. It should allow fights to occur more organically, rather than constantly snowballing into massive encounters.
PC Performance Improvements Are Coming
Another major topic Bungie has addressed is performance on high-end PCs.
At launch, the team focused heavily on ensuring Marathon ran well on low- and mid-spec systems. The goal was to ensure that as many players as possible could access the game without major technical issues.
However, that also meant some players running high-end rigs felt like the game wasn’t fully utilising their hardware.
Bungie says it’s working on improvements in two stages.
In the short term, the studio plans to release a performance optimisation guide to help players get the most out of their current hardware settings.
Bungie has shared a two-phase approach: in the near term, performance guides will help players optimise their setups. Over time, the studio will release upgrades to further improve performance on high-end PCs, with changes rolling out incrementally across several updates.
Performance is key in a competitive shooter. Stable frame rates and quick response times can decide fights, so players will be paying close attention to this.
Vault Management Is Getting an Upgrade
Another piece of feedback Bungie has received involves inventory management, specifically the Vault.
Many players quickly discovered that certain items didn’t stack well, so the Vault filled up faster than they expected. They noticed that some items didn’t stack well, so the Vault filled up faster than they expected. Back sizes for several item types. This includes:
- Consumables
- Ammo
- Salvage
- Grenades
This should make it much easier to store materials without always running into inventory limits.
Bungie is also adding new Vault filters for keys and backpacks. Even though this sounds like a small update, changes like this can make managing your gear much easier after a good run.
For players who enjoy optimising their loadouts and stash value, these changes should make the system feel much smoother.
Bungie Has Already Shut Down an exploit
Bungie has also fixed an exploit that some players were using to earn credits without actually playing runs.
The exploit allowed players to load into a match as a Rook and immediately exit. Because of how the reward system worked, they would still receive a bonus credit payout even if they did not participate in the run.
Bungie has now fixed this on their servers.
In typical Bungie fashion, the developers even joked about it, saying players will have to “try harder than that” if they want easy credits.
Fixing exploits like this early is important for maintenance. Fixing exploits early helps keep the in-game economy healthy, especially in a game where gear and progression matter so much. Along with these updates, early launch data for Marathon offers an interesting look at how the game is performing so far.
How is the game doing?
On Steam, Marathon currently has around 25,000 players online, with a 24-hour peak of roughly 62,000.
The game’s all-time peak hit just over 88,000 players right after launch, which is a strong start for a new extraction shooter.
The player charts also show a very consistent pattern. Numbers dip during off-hours and climb again during peak gaming times, but overall, the population has remained relatively stable during the first couple of weeks.
This steady player count is usually a good sign for a live-service game.
Sales trackers also hint at a strong start. Current estimates suggest between 750,000 and just under a million Steam owners for Marathon.
Since the game also launched on consoles, the total player base is probably much higher across all platforms.
Player sentiment also looks encouraging. Marathon currently holds an approval rating of around 86–87% on Steam, based on over 30,000 reviews, placing it firmly in the “Very Positive” category.
The game is also doing well on Steam. Right now, it ranks:
- #41 in daily active users
- #8 in top sellers
- #5 in wishlist activity
- The game has also picked up over 100,000 followers on Steam.
Taken together, these numbers suggest that Marathon has had a strong launch, even if it hasn’t been perfect for everyone. The challenge for Marathon isn’t the launch. It’s what happens next.
Extraction shooters need regular updates, balance changes, and new content to keep players interested. The first weeks are usually about fixing issues and listening to feedback.
And so far, Bungie appears to be doing exactly that.
Audio balance tweaks, performance improvements, quality-of-life changes, and quick exploit fixes all show that the developers are actively shaping the game based on how people are playing it.
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