Twitch FPS legend Shroud “can’t believe” Marathon is so hard
Marathon, the new PvPvE shooter from Halo and Destiny developer Bungie, is the first game to truly challenge last year’s juggernaut ARC Raiders in its genre. But make no mistake — that doesn’t mean the two games play the same. In fact, in many ways, they are actually very different.
Although both games include the same overall structure – go down to the map, loot, fight the danger of both PvE and PvP, and take out with your collected valuables – ARC Raiders is considered more common, with systems that encourage cooperation with other players. On the other hand, Marathon has attracted a PvP-oriented crowd, and its short time to kill (TTK) is very rewarding for aggressive players hunting down other runners (especially on the new Outpost map).
Shroud is shocked at how hard the Marathon is pic.twitter.com/VniQS69y7FMarch 6, 2026
Given that Bungie’s last title was Destiny 2 – a shooter, with the exception of some end-game activities such as Nightfalls, Six-man Raids, and Trials of Osiris PvP, is usually only moderately difficult – the surprise of Marathon’s intensity is completely understandable. I feel it too…and I find myself digging it, which is not what I expected.
You see, I’m not a big fan of PvP except for a few specific games (ie Battlefield 6 right now), especially when it’s very competitive and sweaty. But there’s something about the Marathon that just clicks with me, though. I was caught off guard by how much fun I had playing with friends during the pre-launch Slam, and I’ve had a blast so far with the full release, too.
For me, it’s the combination of the game’s slower, more methodical movement, the faster feel of the gunplay, the firefights, and the speed at which you can jump into another game when you’re kicked out.
Abilities that each shell can use do I have a lot of influence, but ultimately, positioning is key, and that has always been my strong suit over raw mechanical ability in shooters. The fast TTK in its engagement means you can handily outrun your opponents with a well-timed flank or right-angle hold even if they have better gear, and even when you die and lose everything, it’s easy to throw together a basic kit and repeat.
Ultimately, it greatly rewards smart and smart play, and manages to keep the stakes high without punishing you severely if you fail. That’s a tough balance to strike, but Bungie has struck it well with Marathon – enough that it has hooks for someone who doesn’t play PvP games at all.
🗨️ Do you enjoy Marathon?
Now that Marathon is out, let me know: do you play the game and have fun with it? If not, are you thinking of downloading it soon, or are you not interested? How do you feel about the high difficulty of the game? I want to hear from you!
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