New Marathon Leaks from Playtest 3...

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thegamepost.com

Marathon NDA Playtest 3 Leak Reveals New Details: New Runner and Abilities, "Multiple" Marathon Ship Maps, UI Overhaul, and More

Bungie’s latest closed playtest for Marathon has reportedly leaked online, revealing a new Runner and abilities, "multiple" Marathon ship maps, and more.
thegamepost.com thegamepost.com

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"Per leaked details, it looks like Bungie has fully overhauled the UI of the Factions screen, now showing off fully redesigned advisors and visual elements. All six factions were available in this playtest. For those unaware, these include: Cyberacme, Nucaloric, Traxus, MIDA, Arachne, and Sekiguchi.

Each of Marathon's six factions was available to interact with in this test, letting players take on contracts. Based on the leaked information, all faction advisors have received a "total visual overhaul." All six of these factions now feature a "super fancy" 30+ second pre-rendered intro cinematic, which "replaces what we saw from previous tests." According to the leaker, they look "fantastic."

Interestingly, all cosmetics from the previous test were removed in this build. Testers only had access to default skins. The new runner (more on her below) had her skin labeled as "Default Skin 01," which could hint at multiple variants down the line, possibly even multiple defaults to choose from in the future.

In Marathon Playtest 3, Bungie reportedly added a new Runner to the roster: Icon (codenamed Thief). This is the same character Bungie teased in earlier promo material. Based on our findings, we can confirm that "Icon" is the official name of the previously codenamed Thief runner in Marathon.

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Here's a quick breakdown of Icon's abilities in Marathon, based on the leaked descriptions:

  • Ability 1: Grapple
    • Works like Pathfinder from Apex Legends.
  • Ability 2: X-Ray Vision
    • Lets the player see loot containers through walls, highlighting them based on the rarity of the highest-rated item inside. Also showed enemy outlines that refreshed every few seconds. It worked through smoke, but unclear if it works through solid walls.
  • Ability 3: Loot-Stealing Drone
    • Fires a retractable grapple at enemy players and pulls the rarest item from their inventory, dropping it nearby as a loot bag. You can't pull it directly into your own inventory, you still have to pick it up manually.

New Details About UESC Marathon Ship Map

According to the leaked information, Marathon Playtest 3 started with the Outpost map on day 1, now featuring improved visuals and a new environmental hazard where "sparks" rain from the sky, dealing damage over time (DOT) and increasing players' heat meters.

Later in the test, a new map was added: Cryo Archive, set on the UESC Marathon ship itself. This is the first time the Marathon has been accessible in a playable form. It seems the ship is split into multiple maps, rather than one big map.

Per leaked details, this map had puzzle-like elements, sections that required keys and other objects to unlock (which were teased by content creators following the gameplay reveal), and areas that were clearly still in development with unfinished art.

While no S'pht Compilers were seen in this build, according to the leaker, they are apparently in the game files.

Other changes and small details...
  • All previous cosmetics were disabled
  • Silkworms, the pink cat, are reportedly in-game
  • Cryo Archive map aesthetics match the rest of the game, but still need major art passes"
 
Still fancy this myself. Hopefully it gets the kinks ironed out and they bring it.

They normally do their best work under pressure, although I realise its not the same people anymore.
 
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ZehDon said:
It's a co-op extraction shooter and Bungie needs to start earning. They're not going to waste money on single player content.
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I didn't say single player. Also there's no way for them to spin this as co-op if you are forced to fight others.

It's like saying the Dark Zone in Division is just co-op. It's PvP with PvE elements.
 
UI Overhaul
30 second cinematic intro for a faction
Default skins
Another 'Apex' inspired addition

Glad to see they have the fingers on the pulse of why this game was firmly rejected......
 
March Climber said:
I didn't say single player.
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You didn't need to. "PVE", "Campaign"; this is the type of content created to appear to single players. That's not Marathon. Period. They may eventually add further PvE elements, but if you're expecting Destiny missions, Strikes, or Raids, you've misunderstood the game they're making.
March Climber said:
... Also there's no way for them to spin this as co-op if you are forced to fight others.

It's like saying the Dark Zone in Division is just co-op. It's PvP with PvE elements.
Click to expand...
You're splitting hairs pointlessly. I said "co-op extraction shooter" - I shouldn't need to go to the lengths to specify this means grouping up with your friends against other players using the internet in first person shooter combat using guns. You're comparison to the Dark Zone is also a bit off - the Dark Zone was an optional PvP extraction mode in an otherwise PvE game.
 
March Climber said:
I didn't say single player. Also there's no way for them to spin this as co-op if you are forced to fight others.

It's like saying the Dark Zone in Division is just co-op. It's PvP with PvE elements.
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You co-operate with others to achieve objectives. Co-op play doesn't have to mean exclusively PVE.

It's PVPVE.
 
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ZehDon said:
You didn't need to. "PVE", "Campaign"; this is the type of content created to appear to single players. That's not Marathon. Period. They may eventually add further PvE elements, but if you're expecting Destiny missions, Strikes, or Raids, you've misunderstood the game they're making.
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I said the same things that MMOs offer as well. Those are all online multiplayer. PvE and Campaign aren't exclusive to single player games. That's why I didn't say the words 'single player'. I don't need raids, strikes, etc. I just wanted the maps and objectives of Marathon to be packaged into a co-op only mode.

It costs the developers almost nothing to do this because the enemy bots and objectives are already in place for the PvE side in PvPvE. If anything they could even turn up the damage of the bots so that it is more roguelike.
ZehDon said:
You're splitting hairs pointlessly. I said "co-op extraction shooter" - I shouldn't need to go to the lengths to specify this means grouping up with your friends against other players using the internet in first person shooter combat using guns. You're comparison to the Dark Zone is also a bit off - the Dark Zone was an optional PvP extraction mode in an otherwise PvE game.
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clarky said:
You co-operate with others to achieve objectives. Co-op play doesn't have to mean exclusively PVE.

It's PVPVE.
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I'm using the Dark Zone because it's a perfect example to what I'm describing. I can't go into the Dark Zone, play cooperatively with others and encounter zero PvP firefights. Same deal with Marathon and other PvPvE extraction shooters.

That's the PvP in PvPvE. It is inescapable. Other human players provide a sweat-element to the game that puts it in a separate category than PvE.

Just ask the players of the recent Dune online game who had to deal with this in their end-game. Thousands of complaints to devs from players who wanted nothing to do with forced PvP, because they know how that changes everything when it comes to progress.

Edit: Also wait a damn minute ZehDon ZehDon I just realized in your first reply post, what in the world are you talking about regarding profits? :messenger_tears_of_joy:

How do you think Bungie was able to sell themselves for such a high dollar amount to Sony? Do you not think that Destiny was a monthly earner for years?
 
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March Climber said:
I'm using the Dark Zone because it's a perfect example to what I'm describing. I can't go into the Dark Zone, play cooperatively with others and encounter zero PvP firefights. Same deal with Marathon and other PvPvE extraction shooters.

That's the PvP in PvPvE. It is inescapable. Other human players provide a sweat-element to the game that puts it in a separate category than PvE.

Just ask the players of the recent Dune online game who had to deal with this in their end-game. Thousands of complaints to devs from players who wanted nothing to do with forced PvP, because they know how that changes everything when it comes to progress.
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I understand what you are saying but it doesn't change what I said, Co-op play doesn't have to be exclusively PVE.

In this game you are co-operating with other people to complete objectives (sometimes with other teams). Its the definition of co-op play, although not in a traditional videogame sense I'll concede that. Why does the fact that some of the enemies are player controlled change that?
 
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March Climber said:
I'm using the Dark Zone because it's a perfect example to what I'm describing. I can't go into the Dark Zone, play cooperatively with others and encounter zero PvP firefights. Same deal with Marathon and other PvPvE extraction shooters.
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Maybe Im remembering wrong or they changed it but you could join with others in the dark zones if you want pre and post but you and they can also betray you. Am I remembering wrong? When I played coop with a friend we did the dark zone for achievements and 90% of the time we did not encounter a single player except enemies. Nowadays I imagine its more dead.
 
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clarky said:
I understand what you are saying but it doesn't change what I said, Co-op play doesn't have to be exclusively PVE.

In this game you are co-operating with other people to complete objectives (sometimes with other teams). Its the definition of co-op play, although not in a traditional videogame sense I'll concede that. Why does the fact that some of the enemies are player controlled change that?
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Oh you're arguing the semantics of the word co-op itself. That's too silly to argue so I'll concede the point. You can have that one.

My point against that poster was that PvE and PvPvE are vastly different in terms of what the player is going to experience. PvP will always bring a different level of competition, trolling, tryhards, pro players, etc. that a PvE-only game 99% of the time would not subject you to. This is undeniable.

The Cockatrice said:
Maybe Im remembering wrong or they changed it but you could join with others in the dark zones if you want pre and post but you and they can also betray you. Am I remembering wrong? When I played coop with a friend we did the dark zone for achievements and 90% of the time we did not encounter a single player except enemies. Nowadays I imagine its more dead.
Click to expand...
You're right, that was part of it.
 
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March Climber said:
Oh you're arguing the semantics of the word co-op itself. That's too silly to argue so I'll concede the point. You can have that one.

My point against that poster was that PvE and PvPvE are vastly different in terms of what the player is going to experience. PvP will always bring a different level of competition, trolling, tryhards, pro players, etc. that a PvE-only game 99% of the time would not subject you to. This is undeniable.


You're right, that was part of it.
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I realise that, im just arguing for sake of it. Sorry no coffee yet on monday :)
 
My main problem with this game is it's completely dehumanized. I know why they do that : to avoid any race controversy, "he is neither black or white, it's a robot". But it's a big mistake. People are humans and want to control characters looking like them.
Bumblebeetuna said:
Still amazing that this and Concord will see the light of day and Factions II is dead.
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Yep. I had a lot of fun with Factions 1 on PS4.
 
Physiognomonics said:
My main problem with this game is it's completely dehumanized. I know why they do that : to avoid any race controversy, "he is neither black or white, it's a robot". But it's a big mistake. People are humans and want to control characters looking like them.

Yep. I had a lot of fun with Factions 1 on PS4.
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It was fun until mtx took over the game.
 
It's going to be difficult to turn things around now, the internet has already a hate boner on the game. In my opinion, you'd need to get a whole bunch of streamers and influencers "on board," praising the game to the skies, to make it a success.
 
Bumblebeetuna said:
Apparently they can't support anything lately that isn't a Last of Us rerelease.

Sony could have given the work to another studio or just had ND finish the game and let someone else support it post launch.
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Except they are fully focused on Intergalactic and supposedly they have another Uncharted in the works.

When it comes to live service, some people are completely irrational.

And I highly doubt it's as easy as 'just letting someone else support it'.
The game was practically complete, but Sony wouldn't even have a studio to 'take over' from ND anyway.
 
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Against all odds, I still think Bungie can turn this around, to a mild success only.
Internet has made up their mind so anything less than 10/10 will not satisfy them and there is just no way this is going to be excellent.
 
March Climber said:
Edit: Also wait a damn minute ZehDon ZehDon I just realized in your first reply post, what in the world are you talking about regarding profits? :messenger_tears_of_joy:

How do you think Bungie was able to sell themselves for such a high dollar amount to Sony? Do you not think that Destiny was a monthly earner for years?
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I'll ignore the rest of your post because you're splitting hairs to no end.

If Bungie were such a high earner, why did they sell themselves? Simple: the ones and zeroes were only going to add up for so long. Being a developer, tech house, publishers, CRM, social media supplier, etc., etc., is expensive. Bungie knew Destiny 2 wasn't bringing in what it used to, so they offered up their GAAS expertise to Sony who gladly paid top dollar for it under Jim Ryan. That's why they got their sweetheart deal. A deal Sony is no doubt regretting. They've failed to earn, failed to release titles, and just generally failed. PlayStation has removed their autonomy, laid off some of their staff, and basically cleaned house all to get Bungie profitable. If Marathon fails to be their next billion dollar franchise - and it's already on the receiving end of mountains of bad publicity, mixed gameplay reactions, and a niche audience - you can rest assured Sony will clean out the leadership and do things their way. Bungie needs to start earning.
 
Those character designs look weird... you know how it's common for concept artists to use Blender, Zbrush etc for exploring forms and shapes, and they look like just that instead of "refined" models
 
Why on earth they thought it was okay to send out what looked like a pre alpha prototype build and present it as near release, was to me a measure of Bungie's highfalutin and completely delusional arrogance. The game looked like fucking Roblox. I ain't playin' that.

I mean, if they can come back with visuals that looked a bit more like the prerendered trailers, I am more likely to take another look at what they're offering. But even then, it's just an extraction shooter.
 
Bumblebeetuna said:
Apparently they can't support anything lately that isn't a Last of Us rerelease.

Sony could have given the work to another studio or just had ND finish the game and let someone else support it post launch.
Click to expand...
Way too smart for sony.

I Guess they needed ND to develop the woke ass mini-stories of the characters involved or some shit.
 
DirtInUrEye said:
Why on earth they thought it was okay to send out what looked like a pre alpha prototype build and present it as near release, was to me a measure of Bungie's highfalutin and completely delusional arrogance. The game looked like fucking Roblox. I ain't playin' that.

I mean, if they can come back with visuals that looked a bit more like the prerendered trailers, I am more likely to take another look at what they're offering. But even then, it's just an extraction shooter.
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It was supposed to be under NDA until it wasn't. I do agree that they went about this all the wrong way. Why on earth they announced a release date before the alpha is beyond me. If they would have just had a low key test and asked for feedback most of the negative around the game could have easily been avoided.
 
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