Marathon Is About to Make a Huge Mistake but Its Not Too Late

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Okay, so Bungie’s always been known for making games feel amazing when you’re shooting, and for creating really cool worlds to play in. I think Marathon really shows that – it feels like everything they’ve learned over the years, going all the way back to the original Marathon, Halo, and Destiny 2, has come together. It’s got a solid base, the shooting is fantastic, the art style is really striking, and honestly, when things click, it’s super rewarding. But there’s a catch, and I think players are going to run into it pretty soon.

Games that are constantly updated rely heavily on valuing players’ time. This is especially tricky for games where you collect items and then leave, like extraction shooters. The game Marathon has decided to reset progress at the start of each new season, meaning players will have to start over, keeping only their visual customizations. While this approach makes some sense, I believe it’s a poor choice. Luckily, the developers, Bungie, still have time to change their minds.

The Problem With Mandatory Wipes

Extraction shooters are exciting because they make you risk losing everything for potentially great rewards. That risk is what makes winning feel so good. In the game Marathon, this feeling is already strong. While losing your gear after a failed attempt can be annoying, it’s a key part of how the game works. I’ve personally had some of my best playthroughs because I was on the verge of losing it all. This level of tension strikes a good balance, appealing to both players who enjoy a relaxed experience and those who are more competitive.

Regularly resetting progress adds a lot of pressure. Instead of just losing items during a game, players lose everything they’ve worked towards throughout the season – things like their faction level, unlocked items, and the effort they put into building their storage. This can be really discouraging for players who’ve spent a lot of time playing, as it feels like they have to start all over without getting much reward. Keeping cosmetic items doesn’t feel like enough of a reward considering the amount of time invested.

The game’s length is a real concern. Matches demand concentration, teamwork, and perseverance, and you earn progress gradually through missions and completing objectives. Regularly losing all that progress could be frustrating and diminish the sense of accomplishment. If the developers implement this system, they’ll need a strong way to keep players invested each season. Otherwise, these forced resets could completely destroy the fun of playing Marathon.

Mandatory Wipes Will Hurt Marathon

Keeping players engaged in live service games relies heavily on motivation. Players need reasons to return, get better, and keep playing. In Marathon, that motivation comes from improving your chosen faction, unlocking new gear, and finishing contracts. Making progress in these areas feels rewarding, and I’ve especially enjoyed discovering more about the game’s story as a result.

Forcing players to start over can be discouraging. If progress is lost no matter how much time and effort someone invests, it can make the game less appealing. I really enjoy Marathon, but the idea of redoing all my faction work or repeating contracts feels overwhelming, and makes me wonder if it’s the right game for me. This is particularly true for players who don’t have a lot of free time. Those who play casually might feel like they’re always behind.

Honestly, the new high-level stuff like the Cyro Archive is a big deal, and it really highlights this problem. When we put in the time to learn a tough raid or coordinate with our team, it needs to feel worth it in the long run. If all that effort is for something temporary, it’s super discouraging. Plus, hitting level 25 every season is already a grind, and if that’s a gatekeeping requirement for the best content, a lot of us are going to be stuck on the sidelines most of the time.

Optional Wipes Is The Better Path Forward

Bungie still has a chance to improve how it handles resets. The issue isn’t that resets happen, but that players are forced to participate in them. The success of Arc Raiders showed that letting players choose to reset their progress is a good solution. Offering rewards for voluntary resets encourages participation while still allowing players who don’t want to restart to continue playing. I experienced this firsthand with the first reset in Arc Raiders and realized that system isn’t for everyone.

Implementing a system like the one in Destiny 2 could resolve many of the current worries about Marathon. Players who prefer a fresh start could still have that option, while others could continue their progress. This would cater to different player preferences and keep the game enjoyable for everyone. Bungie has a history of responding to player feedback and improving their games – Destiny 2 saw significant changes based on how players reacted, fixing systems that didn’t initially work well. Marathon could benefit from this same approach, but it’s important to address early concerns about forced resets.

Marathon has a solid foundation – the gameplay is fun, the world is interesting, and the game mechanics are complex and well-developed. However, how players advance in the game will be key to keeping them hooked. If Bungie allows more freedom and avoids forcing players to start over frequently, they can prevent a potentially game-breaking issue and help Marathon truly succeed. Personally, I’d be much more likely to keep playing and encourage others to join me if I knew my progress wouldn’t be erased every few months.

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2026-03-27 02:14