Bungie has acknowledged that it over-adjusted a gameplay mechanic in Marathon during a recent update and plans to implement corrective measures soon.
Marathon’s version 1.0.0.4 update, released on March 11, brought a series of modifications to weapon functions and item availability. These changes included decreased visual clarity for thermal scopes and an increase in starting ammunition for certain loadouts.
However, the most contentious alteration was the adjustment that “increased the range gunfire and explosions can be heard from”.
Upon the update’s release, players reported that the expanded sound detection range meant they could be more easily located when firing weapons, leading to a significantly more frantic gameplay experience. Some players expressed frustration, feeling they were under constant assault.
In response, Bungie has now issued a statement to players, admitting that the range adjustment might have gone too far. The developer intends to partially revert this change in a future update, though not entirely.
The message from Bungie states, “We’ve seen your feedback about the increased range at which you can hear other players in combat and are closely monitoring how it affects your runs.”
It continues, “We recognize that this was an overcorrection and will pull things back in a way that maintains your ability to hear each other’s actions, but not at a distance that feels excessive. We’re still aligning on how to ensure the best player experience, and will deploy changes in an upcoming update.”
VGC’s review of Marathon described the game as “a hostile beast worth taming” and proclaimed it “as alluring as it is unforgiving”.
The review noted, “Marathon is reminiscent of some of the toughest parts of Destiny 2, moments of overwhelming hostility where you feel endangered even while having optimal equipment for the task. The type of challenge that reminds you that you can never be too safe, and that danger is always looming above your head.
“But it’s those contesting moments, in Marathon and elsewhere, that reflect a tale of resilience. One can only hope that Bungie is given the grace of time to actually put up a fight.”