The launch for Marathon’s season two yesterday was a forgettable one, thanks mainly to a myriad of server issues.

It was a mess for several hours, and Bungie was forced to take the game offline as players everywhere were getting disconnected from matches and losing their loot constantly. It couldn’t have come at a worse time, either, as a new trailer played during Sony’s State of Play during a time when it was basically impossible to get online.

But now that things have stabilized, gamers are enjoying a lot of what the Nightfall content update has brought, myself included. Along with the new Sentinel Runner Shell that functions as a trapper/ambush type class, the new Night Marsh map is more than I expected. I was thinking it would just be a night version of the Dire Marsh map (and it is at first), but the darkness, new enemy types, missions, loot, atmosphere, and overall sense of dread makes it feel like a different kind of horror experience from the rest of the game.

The much-maligned UI? Also vastly improved. Tons of bug fixes, a smoother Faction menu experience, and a big simplification of item tiles makes it way easier and more user-friendly to navigate, marking a change in one of the biggest overall complaints the game has had since its closed beta.

“Aside from the disappointing server issues, this is an incredible update,” one Marathon player said on Reddit. “The amount of new content, balancing and re-contextualizing of existing content is pretty astounding. I was initially sad that we weren’t getting an additional zone, not because I expected it but because I was afraid S2 wouldn’t be enough to keep me motivated to play more of a game I really love.”

The season two launch coincides with a free-to-play week for the game, running from June 2 to 9, allowing anyone to play the full experience. This has led to an influx of more players, peaking at over 40,000 concurrents today. Is that enough to save the game from the impending doom that so many feel is on the way? No clue. But for now, the game is better than it was two days ago, and it’s enough to get me back out there.

“It’s a huge upgrade,” another player said of the update. “There’s a ton of subtle changes beyond the obvious ones that make everything feel much much better (things like subtle color palette and intensity choices on the gear icons for example, or objective icons embedded into contracts).”

The full season two patch notes paint the picture of a live-service game that could vastly improve with each content season. While Destiny is unfortunately ending its content updates, Marathon is just beginning, and this sign of things to come has me feeling somewhat hopeful about it for the first time in a while.

I hope that the free players enjoy it enough to stick around and Marathon is given a chance by all involved (including Sony), because it’s a pretty great game, no matter how niche.

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The post After rocky day 1, Marathon’s season 2 is feeling like a massive improvement appeared first on Destructoid.

The latest biggest day in Marathon kicks off tomorrow with the launch of season two, and there’s plenty of incentive for all sorts of players to give it a try.

Season two, Nightfall, will bring the extraction shooter’s first inventory wipe for players looking to fight from scratch all over again. But it’s also adding an experimental PvE-focused mode alongside its free-to-play week from June 2 to 9, as Bungie attempts to act on numerous sources of feedback.

The new mode, called Sponsored Survival, takes place on the new map Night Marsh, and it will begin with just one crew spawning in with Sponsored Kits. “They’ll start as the only players on the map and can explore, loot, and blast their flashlights without fear of repercussion… from PVP enemies anyways,” Bungie explained. “The UESC will still be there in full force, as will some new enemies that lurk in the shadows.”

But then, a wrinkle: “After a certain period of time, backfilled Rooks can enter the map and begin their own scavenging excursions,” Bungie said. “Perhaps they’ll remain lone wolves, or maybe they’ll team up with each other or the sole crew on the map—everyone’s goal is survival, and how you get there is up to you.”

Each match will last for 18 minutes, and the only way to get out alive is by using the final exfil. The crew and Rooks will have to either duke it out or negotiate their way to safety.

This mode definitely sounds like something I’m interested in trying out as a shake-up of the extraction formula. Bungie says that “this asymmetrical mode changes the dynamics of a run, taking the heat off of the lone crew for the first few minutes of the match, while also keeping some of the fun, social unpredictability that Rooks bring to runs.” Count me in.

Since this is experimental, though, it’s likely not guaranteed to stick around, but the devs say they will be gathering feedback. What will stick around, however, is progress and inventories for free-to-play players during the game’s Open Play Week if they choose to purchase the full game.

It’ll be crews of players (including the new Sentinel Runner Shell) vs. an army of Rooks when the new mode goes live tomorrow, June 2, and I’m itching to try it out already after taking a break for over a month.

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Sony officially kicked off the Summer showcase season with a packed June 2026 State of Play, delivering over an hour of announcements, gameplay reveals, release dates, and a few genuinely unexpected surprises. From the long-awaited return of God of War to fresh gameplay from Marvel’s Wolverine, alongside new entries in iconic franchises such as Tomb…

The post PlayStation State of Play 2026 June : God of War Laufey, Marvel’s Wolverine and Major Surprises appeared first on Invision Game Community.

Marathon's Season 2 update was a huge moment for the game. With the massive patch and an open week to invite new players, it felt like a prime opportunity for Bungie to give the game a much-needed injection of both new content and fresh blood. Unfortunately, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, and that's exactly what happened here, as error codes and server issues plagued the release.

Bungie is trying out something unique with Marathon Season 2, creating what it calls a "PvP lite and low-risk way" to play the game, set aside from regular runs. The mode, named Sponsored Survival, will drop a single crew into the new zone, Night Marsh, free to loot and fight UESC bots to their heart's content. That is, at least, for a little while, because as the game progresses, some unwelcome visitors are set to arrive, desperate to steal any gear they can get their hands on.

Season 2 for Marathon begins very soon, and Bungie has introduced the open play week, where you can check out everything Marathon has to offer for free. Bungie is also partnering with Twitch for a new batch of Twitch Drops to celebrate Season 2’s launch, and here is how to get them.

Marathon Season 2 Twitch Drops

The launch campaign for Season 2 of Marathon includes the following rewards and requirements:

Marathon season 2 kicks off today, acting as a fresh start for every single person who's played so far with its complete wipe of all gear. For this first week of the season, it's also going to be free-to-play for anyone, clearly a big plea for those that haven't yet tried it out to give it a fair shake. To do that, Bungie will be doing their first test that eases up on the challenge by offering a "PvP-lite" mode called Sponsored Survival.

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Marathon is a horror game. Well, it should be, anyway (or I suppose in some ways it already is). The ever under-respected genre is not where Bungie's take on an extraction shooter currently sits, even if there are still qualities to be found in the likes of jump scares, a clingy, sticky tension, hints of something that went catastrophically wrong. I want more of these elements of horror, and oh lucky me, the first trailer for the game's second season looks like it will deliver on that front.

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Bungie have announced that their next large update to Destiny 2,  titled Shadow and Order, has been delayed.

“Our next Major Update, Destiny 2: Shadow and Order, is undergoing large revisions and will be delayed. This update is being changed and expanded to include sizable quality-of-life updates and as a result, will also be renamed. This update will now launch on June 9, 2026.

We will provide exact details closer to release covering previously announced Weapon Tier Upgrading, but also additions like expanding Tiered Gear to all Raid and Dungeon activities, Pantheon 2.0, Tier 5 stats for Exotic Armors, and more. Through June, we will continue to have routine bug fixes and stability improvements, continued portal modifiers, Guardian Games (March), and the return of a more frequent Iron Banner cadence

In terms of communications, we will be focusing on providing you with updates about our live game content, community activations, and general upkeep through the TWID and our Destiny social channels. Thank you for your continued patience and support. We will have more information on our next major update and future plans for Destiny 2 closer to launch.

See You Starside.”

The Shadow and Order update had been due to arrive just after the Marathon Server Slam and just before Marathon itself launched, so it seemed inevitable that it would be moved to allow Bungie some space for that.

Bungie have not released a roadmap for future updates but if Shadow and Order – or whatever it gets called – is delayed by three months then there is a very good chance that the next expansion, Shattered Cycle, will also get pushed back.

Bungie are clearly prioritising Marathon, and they really have to as they need another big hit. Destiny 2 is a shadow(keep) of its former self, and delaying big updates for months on end is not going to incentivise the players left.

Source: BlueSky

We’ve seen all kinds of gameplay in Bungie’s Marathon, from a duo squad working together with a pair of Rooks in PvE to a montage of executions and class abilities. But what does a successful run on Tau Ceti IV look like? Bungie has enlightened us with a new 18-minute gameplay video, featuring the Destroyer, Thief and Assassin on the Perimeter map.

Some highlights include the Thief grappling onto a roof and taking down an enemy player with a shotgun, before executing another. We even get to see a 2v3 situation, which really showcases the stopping power of the BR33 Volley Rifle. After starting the extraction process, players essentially set up a post that they must stay close to, fighting off all comers.

Which is where the Thief’s drone comes in handy. It can survey the area and mark any targets while also stealing loot from enemies. When exfil is complete, you can spectate other players or proceed to the stats screen to see your Eliminations (with enemy Runners tracked separately), revives, and even inventory value.

The Progress screen also highlights your Runner Level and reputation gained among the six factions – standard extraction shooter fare. Interestingly, there are filter options available for auto-vaulting, transmuting and auto-selling gear after every run. There’s something that ARC Raiders should think about stealing.

Marathon is out next week, but you can go hands-on early with the upcoming Server Slam, which runs from February 26th to March 2nd on all platforms. Head here for more details on what to expect.

Since it dropped at the tail end of October, Arc Raiders has shrugged off any potential threats to its firm grip on my gaming time. New seasons of Black Ops 7 and Battlefield 6 have led to brief dabbles with both games, but little more than that. Destiny 2's Star Wars-themed Renegades expansion is still sitting in my library, waiting to be played. Even the addictive nature of cursed slot machine sim Cloverpit couldn't keep me away from Embark's extraction shooter for long. However, over the last week or so, I've started to show signs of Arc Raiders fatigue, which bodes extremely well for an FPS game that, just a few months ago, I thought was doomed: Marathon.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: My love for Arc Raiders is starting to wane, and that plays right into Marathon's hands

Is Marathon on Game Pass? Following in the footsteps of live service shooters like Helldivers 2, hopping into Marathon is going to set you back a few bucks. If you're already subscribed to Microsoft's Game Pass service, then you're presumably here in the hopes that you won't have to shell out any more of your hard-earned cash. Marathon only looks better and better with each new glimpse we get of Bungie's revamped extraction-based FPS game. It's certainly come a long way from its 2025 closed alpha, and is on course to land as one of this year's best shooters. Ahead of the Marathon release date, we've got all the info on whether Game Pass will punch your ticket to Tau Ceti IV.

Read the full story on PCGamesN: Is Marathon coming to Game Pass?

Let me begin by saying I'm really looking forward to Marathon and its March 5 launch. I genuinely hope the game is a success, and I think it has a good chance to be.

That being said, it's an extraction shooter. This means it's PvPvE and fully multiplayer at all times, similarly to a game like ARC Raiders or Escape From Tarkov. And while I'm aware that this isn't a hot take, I can't shake the feeling that this exhilarating sci-fi world would be better suited to almost any other genre.

As an extraction shooter, Marathon is limited in how it can deliver its worldbuilding and story—via things like quests, in-game items, potential cutscenes, and lore drops like short stories or animations outside of the game. I have faith that Bungie can do this well, especially after the studio improved over time in how it was done in Destiny, but every new, exciting piece of media that comes out about this new game makes me wish it was delivered in any other genre.

Marathon is dripping with aura and stylishness. I am in love with its themes and concepts, its colorful and varied environments. But in order to enjoy it, I need to queue up and get ready to get my day absolutely ruined by losing all of my loot to an exfil camper, someone who's just plain better than me, or at worst, a cheater.

A singleplayer experience or a co-op shooter experience would be way more digestible than an extraction shooter. This genre has proven to be not for everyone, by a long shot, especially considering how intent Bungie seems to be on leaning into the PvP aspect of it. Where ARC Raiders has fostered a sort of "safe space" for PvE-only players thanks to its spin on engagement-based matchmaking, Marathon looks like it's going to throw everyone into the fire.

Bungie's environmental art, atmosphere, music, and gunplay are always solid. Even asDestiny 2 has taken multiple different paths, that's never really changed. A new Developer Insights video highlighting the game's composer and soundtrack dropped today, and I'm stoked about its vibe and the four songs released thus far. But in it, they talk about how they needed to craft the OST around the game not having one particular main character, and so the songs will be another way in which the story is supplied.

The original Marathon games from decades ago featured a unique and interesting sci-fi story. This new title will carry on that legacy, albeit in a much, much different way. I hope that the lore is delivered in fun ways but that it's still accessible to people, even if they're not the best at PvP.

Then again, Bungie's insistence that this is a PvP-first game may mean that this is just not the game for a good number of gamers. And I just hope that won't derail the game's chances at success, especially considering how make-or-break it feels for both Bungie and PlayStation.

The post I’m excited for Marathon, but I can’t help feel that its vibrant world would be better-suited for a different genre appeared first on Destructoid.

Destiny 2's next large-scale update, Shadow and Order, has been delayed out of its launch in just a couple of weeks. But players already pretty much knew that.

Shadow and Order was scheduled to launch on March 3, two days before Bungie's new game Marathon, and the writing has been on the wall for a while: radio silence about the update for a long time, until today.

Bungie posted today that Shadow and Order is now launching on June 9, which is just over three months from its initial launch point, and "undergoing large revisions" in the process. Needless to say, even though they knew it was coming, Destiny 2 players are none too pleased on the subject.

"We will provide exact details closer to release covering previously announced Weapon Tier Upgrading, but also additions like expanding Tiered Gear to all Raid and Dungeon activities, Pantheon 2.0, Tier 5 stats for Exotic Armors, and more," Bungie said.

Shadow and Order is now being "changed and expanded to include sizable quality-of-life updates and as a result, will also be renamed" in light of the change, which feels directly Marathon-related, whether intended or not.

"Through June, we will continue to have routine bug fixes and stability improvements, continued portal modifiers, Guardian Games (March), and the return of a more frequent Iron Banner cadence (April)," Bungie said, confirming the roadmap of content will be a bit more scant than originally scheduled. "In terms of communications, we will be focusing on providing you with updates about our live game content, community activations, and general upkeep through the TWID and our Destiny social channels."

Bungie and Sony both need Marathon to be a success, and the chances of Destiny 2 players trying it out, buying it, and spending money on it is likely a lot higher if they don't have Shadow and Order to distract them from the new extraction shooter.

Before its delay, Shadow and Order was set to include a new rewards pass, exotic weapon and ornament, new legendary weapons and armor ornaments, new cosmetics, "and more."

The post Destiny 2’s big Shadow and Order update has been delayed, confirming what players already knew appeared first on Destructoid.

Bungie have announced that their next large update to Destiny 2,  titled Shadow and Order, has been delayed.

“Our next Major Update, Destiny 2: Shadow and Order, is undergoing large revisions and will be delayed. This update is being changed and expanded to include sizable quality-of-life updates and as a result, will also be renamed. This update will now launch on June 9, 2026.

We will provide exact details closer to release covering previously announced Weapon Tier Upgrading, but also additions like expanding Tiered Gear to all Raid and Dungeon activities, Pantheon 2.0, Tier 5 stats for Exotic Armors, and more. Through June, we will continue to have routine bug fixes and stability improvements, continued portal modifiers, Guardian Games (March), and the return of a more frequent Iron Banner cadence

In terms of communications, we will be focusing on providing you with updates about our live game content, community activations, and general upkeep through the TWID and our Destiny social channels. Thank you for your continued patience and support. We will have more information on our next major update and future plans for Destiny 2 closer to launch.

See You Starside.”

The Shadow and Order update had been due to arrive just after the Marathon Server Slam and just before Marathon itself launched, so it seemed inevitable that it would be moved to allow Bungie some space for that.

Bungie have not released a roadmap for future updates but if Shadow and Order – or whatever it gets called – is delayed by three months then there is a very good chance that the next expansion, Shattered Cycle, will also get pushed back.

Bungie are clearly prioritising Marathon, and they really have to as they need another big hit. Destiny 2 is a shadow(keep) of its former self, and delaying big updates for months on end is not going to incentivise the players left.

Source: BlueSky

Last night’s State of Play stream felt like E3 in February, absolutely stuffed with fan-pleasing announcements and games coming to PlayStation 5.

Let’s not waste any time and round up all of the announcements starting with…

Kena: Scars of Kosmora has been revealed for PS5 and PC

Ghost of Yotei Legends release date has been set for March

Death Stranding 2 is coming to PC in March

Sony shared a 4:Loop gameplay deep dive for the co-op shooter

Pragmata had a “World View” trailer, and Resident Evil Requiem got another new Leon trailer.

Legacy of Kain Defiance Remastered is coming in March with a new game, Legacy of Kain: Ascendance, also announced

Brigandine Abyss, the latest in the fantasy war strategy RPG series, is coming in 2026.

Dead or Alive 6 Last Round announced, but there’s also a new Dead or Alive project in the works!

Remedy shared a Control Resonant gameplay reveal

The Nephilim are fighting to save humanity in Crimson Moon, coming Fall 2026

Beast of Reincarnation release date has been set for 4th August

Neva: Prologue reveals how Alba met her wolf friend in DLC next week

Yakoh Shinobi Ops announced, a 4-player co-op stealth ’em up with top-down tactical gameplay. Coming in 2027.

Project Windless revealed

Star Wars: Galactic Racer gameplay shared in the new trailer

IO share a fresh 007 First Light story trailer

Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Volume 2 features MGS4 and Peace Walker. Huzzah!

Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse announced, in partnership with Evil Empire and Motion Twin

Silent Hill: Townfall takes the psychological horror series to the cold isolated backdrop of Scotland

Rev. Noir teased by Konami, an all-new RPG in development for PlayStation 5

There’s an untitled John Wick game in development

Marathon’s launch trailer is here, with server slam announced

Big Walk is strolling to PS5 as well as PC later this year

Saros gets a new gameplay overview trailer

Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls brings the Unbreakable X-Men into the fight and it has a release date

God of War’s original trilogy is getting a remake!

And here’s a surprise: a side-scrolling God of War spin-off Sons of Sparta.

With less than a month to go before release, Bungie has announced that a Marathon open preview weekend – a “server slam” – will take place the weekend before the full launch on 5th March. From 26th February to 2nd March, all platforms will be able to jump in and get an introduction to the game’s take on the extraction shooter.

This will be just an introduction to Marathon’s content, with additional maps, factions, contracts and more coming in the full game and then through Season 1. However, it will serve the main purposes for the game, being a bit of a demo for players, and a test for the game’s servers.

The Server Slam will include:

• Infil into two zones:
  • Perimeter
  • Dire Marsh
• Take on the opening contracts for five of Marathon’s factions
• Try out all six Runner Shells, plus Rook in scavenger mode
• Solo queue, proximity chat, and more

Season 1 will then bring:

• Two more zones
  • Outpost
  • Cryo Archive
• Full contract and progression trees unlocked for all six factions
• Ranked mode
• And more

Importantly, rewards can be earned during the test that will roll through to your profile at release. There will be a special emblem and banner to show you were first, and you’ll be able to earn a launch bundle with weapons, body implants, and more.

Oh, and PS Plus players will be able to claim a trio of weapon charms for:

• Ghost of Yōtei – Onryō Weapon Charm
• Death Stranding 2 – Battle Guitar Weapon Charm
• Helldivers 2 – For Freedom Weapon Charm

So, are you going to give it a go later this month?

via PS Blog

Multiplayer games are unique in that they can last for years and years, even decades in some cases, but the excitement of a brand new release cannot be truly matched by DLCs or expansions for existing titles. Luckily, 2026 looks very interesting on the front of new multiplayer games releases. They're also quite varied, offering a variety of settings and gameplay formulas that are likely to entice many players throughout the year. Other Wccftech's Most Anticipated 2026 Games per genre: Role-Playing Games, Indie Games, Platformers, DLC/Expansion, Action, Shooters, Horror, Sports/Racing, Fighting, Adventure Games, Strategy/Simulation Marathon (March 2026 - PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X) […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/wccftechs-most-anticipated-multiplayer-games-of-2026-new-online-worlds/