A recent leak has brought to light significant improvements expected in the upcoming first-person extraction shooter Marathon. These enhancements aim to tackle criticism regarding the game’s visuals and gameplay mechanics, especially concerning its controversial art style.
Following the realization that Marathon included art that was allegedly plagiarized, Bungie announced the game’s indefinite delay from its scheduled release on September 23. Preliminary signs had hinted at a possible delay, with reports indicating that marketing efforts for Marathon were scaled back. While there is hope that Marathon could still launch in 2025, delays may push the release to 2026 if substantial revisions are made.
Upcoming details are anticipated this fall, while a recent disclosure offers a glimpse into what players can expect once the game is finally released.
New Enhancements Unveiled
In recent Twitter posts that have since been removed, a leaker named rocksiza shared images and insights about notable improvements in Marathon. According to Paul Tassi at Forbes, the leak includes outdoor imagery showcasing enhancements in density and lighting compared to earlier alpha test builds. Major visual upgrades were implemented following the last alpha tests, with one image revealing blue blood pooling in water after player fatalities. Additionally, players’ corpses appear to remain on the battlefield, addressing past complaints about bodies vanishing post-kill.
**Key Improvements:
- Enhanced density and lighting.
- Blue blood effects and visible corpses.
- New materials exchange in the Black Market.
- Improved map legend for clarity.
- Introduction of the new “V99 Channel Rifle” with volt cell ammunition.
- Medic Runners for in-game healing.
- Lengthened resurrection times.**
These adjustments signify Bungie’s commitment to refining gameplay experiences before the official launch, as there lacks a definitive timetable for release.
