Marathon Server Slam Gets Big Player Numbers on Steam, Bungie Acknowledges UI and PvP Frequency Complaints

The Marathon Server Slam is disconnected to a speedy start, with awesome subordinate numbers connected Steam.

As portion of the Server Slam event, Bungie’s extraction shooter was made disposable to download for escaped crossed PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S yesterday, February 26, allowing players to springiness it a changeable implicit the weekend.

Marathon deed a highest of 143,621 concurrent players connected Steam, though the existent fig crossed each platforms volition beryllium higher (neither Microsoft nor Sony marque subordinate numbers public). And portion the Server Slam is escaped and Marathon volition outgo $39.99 erstwhile it launches due adjacent week, the numbers bash suggest important interest.

Perhaps a utile examination is to rival extraction shooter Arc Raiders, which went connected to bask tremendous occurrence and immense income aft a akin server slam lawsuit up of motorboat and the aforesaid terms point. Arc Raiders’ accent trial deed a highest of 189,668 concurrent players connected Valve’s platform. Marathon is down that for now, but its highest fig volition surely turn arsenic we caput into the play and much radical are disposable to play.

Already, Bungie has signalled it is gathering feedback from players, and said it volition marque updates during the Slam itself and “tie up immoderate escaped ends” up of motorboat connected March 5. In a station connected societal media, Bungie outlined a fig of bugs it’s moving to fix, but possibly of astir involvement is an acknowledgement of feedback connected Marathon’s idiosyncratic interface.

If there’s 1 facet of Marathon that has been roundly criticized, it’s the UI. Some players are saying they’re uncovering the icons of items unintuitive, and there’s excessively overmuch ocular clutter, which makes navigating the menus trickier than it should be.

“We've heard your thoughts and privation to perceive more!” Bungie said connected the UI feedback, earlier pointing players to its Discord. It seems improbable the developer volition beryllium capable to marque immoderate meaningful alteration present earlier launch, but hopefully tweaks tin beryllium made sooner alternatively than later.

Meanwhile, Bungie said it had received reports that PvP isn’t predominant capable overall. It offered immoderate tips for players hoping to prosecute successful PvP much often.

“Perimeter (Beginner) intentionally infils less Runners,” Bungie said. “Head to Perimeter and past Dire Marsh for a greater challenge. Additionally, the UESC are deadlier than you mightiness deliberation and volition hitch you disconnected the representation (thus limiting the lobby's PvP opportunities) if you fto them swarm.”

The Marathon Server Slam ends astatine 10am PT connected March 2, with rewards disposable for investigating the servers.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].