Bungie has officially reached out Marathon player complaints about the low frequency of PvP during Server Slam, suggesting that one of the main causes may be the game's AI being too good. The Slam server launched on February 26th and is available on all major platforms, including PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. Early data from sources like SteamDB suggests that the open beta has been largely successful for Bungie. Marathon it surpasses 140,000 concurrent players on Steam alone and surpasses ARC Raiders in Valve's storefront in terms of sales.
However, Marathon's Server Slam has not been without its critics, with one of the biggest complaints centering around the lack of frequent PvP encounters. Many players have argued that the game feels more like a PvE-focused extraction shooter, despite pre-release marketing that heavily emphasized PvP action. “It felt like I was constantly searching [other players]hunt them down, look for PvP. But there just weren't that many players on the map,” said content creator and streamer Rory Newbrough, describing his solo experience in Marathon.
Marathon's Server Slam is off to an incredible start
Marathon, the upcoming extraction shooter from Destiny developer Bungie, is launching its official Server Slam, and it's off to an incredible start.
UESC bots may be the reason you don't get any PvP in Marathon
Bungie has now responded to the PvP criticism by saying that “UESCs are deadlier than you think and will wipe you off the map, limiting lobby PvP options if you let them swarm.” Simply put, the AI can be so powerful that it can eliminate players before they even get a chance to fight each other. Like ARC Raidersmaps, MarathonZones are occupied by both players and NPCs, mainly UESC robots. Bungie is now suggesting that many players in Server Slam matches are being eliminated by these bots before an actual PvP encounter takes place.
Force MarathonRoboti 's shouldn't come as a surprise as players have openly discussed how difficult the AI can be, especially for newcomers. Many others share this opinion Marathon's PvE with the argument that it's not properly balanced. And Bungie's recent comment only reignited the debate about whether the AI is overpowered and in need of a nerf.
Bungie is not saying that UESC bots and bosses are the only cause of inconsistent PvP. He notes that certain zones, such as Perimeter, are intentionally designed with fewer players to remain more beginner-friendly. “Head to Perimeter and then Dire Marsh for more of a challenge,” the studio advises players looking for more PvP action. Still, some fans remain unconvinced, arguing that deeper technical issues may be affecting PvP Marathon.
Drag your weapons to fill the grid
Start
Drag your weapons to fill the grid
Easy to medium hard
Some fans blame the sound design and fog of war
“You need to fix the sound design,” one fan commented on Bungie's Twitter post, adding that “Everything just sounds like you're underwater and you can't hear the enemy's footsteps or their looting at all.” While some players say that these audio issues can be improved Marathon's setting, others argue that there is a deeper design issue that Bungie needs to address. They argue that the game intentionally limits player awareness as a game mechanic, and that this design choice hurts the PvP experience in ways that can't be fixed by simply tweaking a few options.
Another complaint revolves around how Marathonsecurity and networking systems affect PvP. Specifically, some players point to the Fog of War mechanic, claiming that it prevents consistent encounters. The system limits the information that player clients receive about their surroundings. This is said to reduce cheating by restricting access to server-side data that could reveal hostile positions. However, critics say the system makes it difficult to track other players, causing PvP encounters to feel random and sporadic.
As of this writing, Bungie has not directly addressed concerns about the sound design or the Fog of War system. However, he encouraged Server Slam participants to share feedback via the official Discord server. “Thanks for all the feedback so far and keep it coming,” the developer said. But with MarathonThe official launch is set for March 5th, it remains to be seen if Bungie will actually make more PvP adjustments before release.
- Released
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March 5, 2026
- ESRB
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Teen / Animated blood, language, violence, in-game purchases, user interaction
- Multiplayer
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Online multiplayer, online co-op
