Arc Raiders Players Are in for a Huge Surprise With Marathon

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While hero and battle royale shooters remain popular, extraction shooters are becoming the next big thing. Games like Escape From Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown have built a dedicated following, and Arc Raiders showed this genre can appeal to a wide range of players. With Bungie’s Marathon on the horizon, we’re likely to see even more extraction shooters emerge. But players who enjoyed Arc Raiders should know that Marathon will offer a very different experience.

Arc Raiders has unexpectedly become a game where players often cooperate to survive and collect loot, even if it’s just through ignoring each other. However, Bungie’s upcoming game, Marathon, will be very different. It’s designed to be competitive and cutthroat, encouraging players to prey on each other. This shift from the cooperative spirit of Arc Raiders to the competitive nature of Marathon is likely to reignite the discussion about whether games should prioritize working together or competing against each other.

Marathon Will Be Less Friendly Than Arc Raiders

Playing Arc Raiders, it’s clear that teamwork is a huge part of the experience, more so than in many similar games, and that’s what I like most about it. Even when playing alone, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how kind other players are. I’ve lost count of the number of times someone has simply waved hello, offered help, or even given me valuable items. These small acts of generosity create great memories and build a positive community.

Marathon isn’t meant to be a cooperative game. Bungie has clearly stated they want a competitive, high-stakes experience. It’s an extraction shooter where danger lurks around every corner, and the game’s atmosphere reflects that. You play as a skilled operative exploring abandoned sci-fi locations, where trusting others will likely get you into trouble. The game pushes players into tense situations, and success depends on being smarter, faster, and more skilled than your opponents.

Players used to Arc Raiders will need to adjust their thinking when playing Marathon. Unlike Arc Raiders, where players often approach each other with friendliness, Marathon is designed to be much more hostile. Expect to be shot at immediately – cooperation isn’t the goal. This isn’t a bug, it’s intentional. If you’re hoping for the same cooperative experience you found in Arc Raiders, Marathon will likely come as a surprise.

Solo Players Will Need to Watch Their Back

A key difference between these two games is how well they support players who prefer to go it alone. In Arc Raiders, playing solo is not only possible, but can be quite fun. Players often cooperate, offering help, sharing resources, or teaming up against computer-controlled enemies instead of attacking each other. I’ve experienced this firsthand, with strangers reviving me during tough fights, or solo players peacefully dividing areas to collect loot.

Don’t go into Marathon expecting an easy experience. Bungie’s new game looks like it will be very challenging. Players going it alone will likely struggle, not because of how the game is designed, but because the community will be extremely competitive. Groups of players won’t hesitate to take out solo players, and some might even actively hunt them down. Expect people to wait at the escape points, and ambushes will happen frequently. Success in this game will depend as much on being cautious and suspicious as it will on being skilled.

In Marathon, staying alive means being constantly aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to sounds like footsteps, check corners, and don’t take the same path repeatedly. Use high ground when you can, and don’t be afraid to fall back if things get dangerous. Remember, every enemy could be a threat. Players going it alone need to be extra careful with these tactics, as they don’t have teammates to help keep watch.

If you’re coming from a game like Arc Raiders, Marathon might feel incredibly challenging at first. However, that challenge is also what makes it so exciting – every moment requires total focus. Successfully escaping with valuable items in a difficult game like Marathon is a truly rewarding experience. You’ve earned your victory by overcoming a system designed to challenge you at every step, and achieving success as a lone player is incredibly satisfying.

The PvE vs. PvP Debate Will Get Even More Heated

The discussion around Arc Raiders has become quite heated, especially regarding whether the game should focus more on cooperative play with AI enemies or competitive player-versus-player combat. Many players appreciate the game’s cooperative nature, enjoying the slower pace, AI challenges, and the way players naturally team up – some even want dedicated PvE-only game modes. However, others believe that extraction shooters need player conflict to feel authentic and worry that the current matchmaking system, which encourages aggressive play, detracts from the genre’s core experience. The release of Marathon is expected to intensify this debate even further.

Bungie’s new shooter focuses heavily on player-versus-player combat. While there will be some AI enemies, the main challenge will come from other players. Expect ambushes, battles over key locations, and unpredictable fights. This focus could split the extraction shooter community. Some players, like those who enjoy games like Arc Raiders, prefer exploring, fighting AI, and teaming up in unexpected ways. Others, drawn to the intensity of games like Marathon, will likely prefer the thrill of facing unpredictable human opponents in high-stakes situations.

When Marathon comes out, the debate over whether players prefer cooperative PvE or competitive PvP will probably get much more intense. We can expect lots of discussion – and arguments – on Reddit, YouTube, and within the game itself. The extraction shooter genre has come a long way since Escape From Tarkov became popular, with games like Arc Raiders and Marathon continuing to innovate. While this debate will likely draw more attention to the genre as a whole, it could also create deeper divisions among players than we’ve seen before.

I’m drawn to both kinds of extraction shooter games. Sometimes I crave the intense, high-stakes experience where a single mistake could mean losing all your progress. Other times, I prefer a more collaborative game where players team up to overcome challenging AI enemies. That’s what’s great about this genre – it offers a lot of variety. Games like Marathon and Arc Raiders really showcase the different ways extraction shooters can be designed.

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2026-02-01 22:42