Marathon’s recently launched Server Slam playtest attracted a strong initial audience, peaking at 143,621 concurrent players on Steam shortly after its February 26 debut. However, player numbers have since declined significantly. Over the weekend, peak concurrent players fell to below 50,000. According to SteamDB, the game has 44,625 players in-game at the time of writing. Some players have suggested that confusing visuals and a cluttered user interface may be hindering the overall experience. Marathon will launch on March 5 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam.
The game’s details:
New features since alpha, including…
Proximity chat
Solo queue
Rook, a Runner shell used to scavenge matches in progress
The world and fantasy of Marathon
Ways we’re doubling down on the dark, gritty, and grounded sci-fi world
Your role in Marathon—you are the Runner, and you transfer your consciousness into different shells designed with unique capabilities
Improved visual fidelity and immersion, including…
Dead Runners drop as corpses that decay over time
Deepened environmental storytelling
The role of audio
Introduction to Marathon‘s four zones (maps)
Three surface zones—Perimeter, Dire Marsh, and Outpost
The first zone on the UESC Marathon–Cryo Archive, an end-game challenge
Loot and customization
Weapons and mods, including ways to customize your gun in unique ways (like turning the Battery SMG into the Needler)
Runner shell archetypes and ways to customize your playstyles
Factions and progression
Factions and the jobs they’ll ask you to do in game, like MIDA requesting you blow up a UESC dropship
Faction upgrade trees and the capstone rewards you’ll earn each season
The Codex, a collection of your achievements and narrative discoveries; progress to earn exclusive cosmetics and lore
