A new experimental feature in Bungie's game Marathon aims to address player demand for a two-player queue. Starting on March 18 at 10 AM PT, the duos queue will be available for testing in the Perimeter zone only. This mode is designed for premade squads of two players and will not include matchmaking.
This test marks a significant step for Marathon, as it reflects player feedback and suggests potential future expansion of the feature. However, the current implementation is expected to be rough around the edges, with some elements described as 'janky.' Bungie plans to gather data during this period to inform future iterations.
The duos queue will be accessible by selecting 'Perimeter - Duos' from the zone selection screen, though this is not the final user experience flow. Players are encouraged to participate in this test to help shape the feature's development. Bungie has indicated that this is just one of several experiments planned for Marathon, with more testing likely to follow.
One notable aspect of this mode is its restriction to premade duos, meaning players cannot queue solo and be matched with another player. This approach allows Bungie to test how two-player teams perform in the game's environment without the complexity of matchmaking. The test will last approximately two weeks, though the duration could be adjusted based on ongoing data collection.
While this experimental mode is a step toward addressing player requests for a duos queue, it also raises questions about how two-player teams will fare in Marathon's gameplay, particularly given its notoriously high time-to-kill in non-PvP encounters. Bungie acknowledges that tuning and experimentation will be necessary to refine the experience.
The duos queue is part of a broader effort by Bungie to gather player feedback and improve Marathon's features. The game's developer has expressed excitement about running this experiment and learning from it, with the potential for future expansions based on the data collected. Players interested in participating can look forward to a unique opportunity to influence the game's development.
