Bungie Answered
Subject: Accessibility & Player Retention. Sound Design and PvE Mode Request
Hi Bungie / Marathon Team,
I’m a player who genuinely loves Marathon — the art direction, the gameplay feel, the universe. I want to see this game thrive, which is why I’m writing this.
On sound design:
The current sound design, while technically impressive, creates an intense and sustained stress response that makes the game inaccessible for a portion of players — particularly those who already experience high cortisol levels from daily life (work stress, anxiety, etc.). This isn’t about difficulty — it’s about physiological response to audio cues. A simple “low intensity” sound profile option in the settings would cost little in development time but could retain a meaningful segment of players who currently feel forced to quit. Many games have introduced similar accessibility options with great success.
On PvE content:
A significant number of players love the world, the lore, and the gunplay of Marathon but struggle with the competitive pressure of PvP. A dedicated PvE mode — even something as simple as team-based extraction missions against AI — would open the game to an entirely new audience without compromising the core PvP experience for existing players. Games like Helldivers 2 and Deep Rock Galactic have proven that PvE extraction-style gameplay has a massive, loyal audience.
These aren’t requests to change Marathon’s identity — they’re requests to make it more inclusive without sacrificing what makes it great.
Thank you for reading, and thank you for building something special.
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Hi there,
Thanks for reaching out.
While we appreciate your feedback, the best place to share it is on the Marathon Discord rather than our Help Forums. If you haven't already done so, please share your feedback and suggestions there.
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