Bungie held a pro server slam over the weekend Marathon which showed what the developer has been doing since its delay. With many wondering how Marathon has changed, a recent server slam offered a lot of information (thankfully).
Overall, MarathonFeedback on the server slam has been much more positive than its closed tests last year. There are still a few improvements that could be made, but Bungie's extraction shooter is off to a promising start. This means that its most direct competition is ARC RaidersEmbark Studio's retro-futuristic extraction shooter and one of the biggest hits of 2025. ARC RaidersSuccess created expectations and expectations Marathon this is much more interesting because he now has a big competitor to go up against. These two may fall under the extraction shooter umbrella, but these games approach the genre in incredibly different ways.
Marathon and ARC Raiders showcase just how versatile the extraction shooter genre is
The most obvious difference between the two games at first is the perspective. Marathon uses first-person while ARC Raiders is a third person game. This may not seem like much of a difference, but they greatly affect the overall feel of matches. Seeing everything through the character's eyes really adds an extra dose of anxiety that might appeal to players who want a more skill-based experience. ARC RaidersThe third-person approach plays into the game's more casual and approachable reputation. The different perspectives of the characters really change how both worlds feel, which is a good thing by comparison Marathon and ARC Raiders is something extraction shooter fans will be doing for a long time.
That's already clear Marathon leans much harder into PvP than ARC Raiders yes, because it adapts more to how one plays. ARC RaidersAggression-based matchmaking is a feature that opens it up to different player preferences. Marathon however, he has no plans to adopt the same approach.
This is certainly one of the biggest differences between them Marathon and ARC Raiders. Since its launch, ARC Raiders has built a reputation for a community that is surprisingly friendly for an online game. Of course, not every player leans towards pacifism. This is what makes aggression-based matchmaking so special ARC Raiders. Different types of players can experience the game the way they want. On the other hand, Marathon it's not really about flexibility. It focuses on a specific goal: to get in and out by any means necessary. MarathonThe lore and world are rougher, so it makes sense for the game to reflect that. This is evident in several key ways.
- Marathon has a much faster time to kill than ARC Raiders.
- MarathonThe heat system (stamina) makes crawling more challenging.
The different map sizes make Marathon and ARC Raiders feel like worlds apart
The size of the maps of both games will likely be one of the main factors that make players choose one over the other. ARC Raiders is full of exploration. Due to its more forgiving nature, players can spend a lot of time just exploring and going over the details ARC Raideruser maps. The larger range was appealing to many players, but Marathon takes a more closed approach. The maps in Bungie's extraction shooter are still quite detailed and fun, but they are designed to bring players into combat scenarios.
Once again, it plays a role MarathonThe goal is to be a tougher extraction shooter that focuses on shootouts, attacking other players, and specific character expressions through Shells. Although Bungie has a much more specific vision of how they want it Marathon being experienced doesn't mean players can't avoid combat. It's just much more difficult.
Meanwhile, Embark Studios ARC Raiders Roadmap 2026 has already prepared other maps on the way. Now that Marathon is claiming to be the game's first major competitor, it will be interesting to see if ARC Raiders includes some smaller map sizes to try to compete. On the other hand, larger maps may end up being the feature that gives ARC Raiders its own unique edge.
Loot and character progression show two unique takes on dystopian sci-fi settings
Marathon and ARC Raiders both take place in futuristic dystopian worlds, but the former is much more advanced than the latter. IN ARC RaidersIn the world of Speranza, the surviving humans live underground and simply try to survive the external threat of the ARC. This is reflected in looting and game progression. ARC Raiders basically has players scavenging pieces to craft items and weapons that are incredibly undemanding in comparison Marathonloot by tinkering at their base. WITH MarathonAs the character progresses, players must complete quests for specific factions. This requires collecting incredibly high-tech loot that increases the player's standing among the six factions.
Marathon's six factions and what they do
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CyberAcme – heat generation and speed
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NuCaloric – Shields
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Traxus – Long range weapons
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Mida – equipment and implants
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Arachne – Melee weapons
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SekGen – class kernels
MarathonThe release date is almost here and it will be fascinating to see how the reaction to the Bungie-made extraction shooter will be compared to ARC Raiders. It's incredibly different from ARC Raidersand that could either work in his favor or against him. Both have the potential to find dedicated player bases that will last for years, so it will be fun to watch this unfold.
- 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
