Bungie is introducing a limited-time, experimental duos mode to Marathon starting Wednesday, March 18, responding directly to high community demand for two-player squad matchmaking.
Testing the Waters with Perimeter
While Marathon currently limits matchmaking to solo play or three-player squads, the developer is finally testing a two-player format. This experimental queue will be exclusive to the Perimeter map for approximately two weeks. However, Bungie has indicated that the duration remains flexible, with the possibility of an early removal or an extension depending on player feedback and performance data.
A Work in Progress
Game director Joe Ziegler took to X (formerly Twitter) to manage expectations regarding the feature’s current state. “Just a note: this is a bit of an experimental feature, so we expect to learn some things along the way and make changes to future versions of this,” Ziegler stated.
Players should note that the duos-only Perimeter option will appear as a standalone selection on the deployment screen—a temporary UI solution. Ziegler emphasized that this implementation is designed for speed and testing efficiency rather than representing the final product. The team aims to gauge how a two-player dynamic impacts game flow, map balance, and loot distribution before committing to a permanent, fully-fleshed-out version of the mode.
Balancing Matchmaking and Gameplay
The introduction of a duos queue presents significant logistical challenges for Marathon. Adding more matchmaking pools naturally risks increasing wait times, a factor Bungie is undoubtedly monitoring closely as the game already balances multiple queues across various maps. Beyond technical matchmaking concerns, the shift in squad size forces a re-evaluation of how players navigate compounds and interact with the game’s economy, specifically regarding the density of supplies and loot.
