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Shroud has voiced concerns regarding the upcoming game Marathon, as the first-person shooter (FPS) and extraction shooter expert argues that the implementation of aim assist for PC players may undermine the overall gameplay experience, favoring console users instead.
After two years since its initial announcement, Bungie has launched a multiplayer-focused version of Marathon, which pits teams of up to three players against each other in expansive maps. The objective is for squads to gather valuable loot and extract successfully.
This gameplay loop has already begun attracting significant interest, especially as Bungie enters a genre that has been popularized by titles such as Escape from Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown.
However, the initial public version has faced criticism, particularly from testers involved in the Closed Alpha. A primary issue has been Bungie’s choice to introduce aim assist for players using a mouse and keyboard configuration.
Understanding the Aim Assist Debate in Marathon
Aim assist has become a polarizing topic in the gaming world. While many console players rely on it for enhanced precision, PC gamers typically find that their more responsive controls render such features unnecessary.
This longstanding division has existed since the introduction of cross-platform play. Bungie’s recent decision to implement aim assist for both input methods is an attempt to create a more equitable experience across platforms.
I honestly don’t think I’d play Marathon at all at launch if mouse aim assist is still in the game.
It felt like I literally had an aimbot and made every PVP encounter feel shallow. https://t.co/bXnMTd22St
— TacticalBrit (@TheTacticalBrit) April 24, 2025
Players utilizing mouse input have observed a pronounced auto-aim feature that seems to assist in targeting, leading to concerns about fairness in competitive play. Notable instances of this phenomenon have sparked significant reactions across social media, with some users forecasting a bleak future for the game if these mechanics remain intact.
Influencer TacticalBrit expressed his frustration, stating that he would reconsider playing at launch if aim assist is still enabled.
Shroud’s Call to Action for Marathon’s Development Team
Other notable voices in the gaming community have shared similar sentiments, particularly ex-CS and Valorant pro player Shroud. After extensive gameplay during the Alpha testing phase, Shroud concluded that removing mouse aim assist is imperative. He remarked, “The magnetism, they just need to throw that out.”
Shroud explained that while Bungie’s intentions may be to create balance for crossplay, the approach risks damaging the integrity of the PC gaming experience. He emphasized that players who favor mouse and keyboard would prefer to enhance their skills rather than rely on any form of aim assistance.
Developer Response to Aim Assist Feedback
In response to the growing backlash surrounding aim assist, Bungie’s development team recognizes the feedback from the community. They have already addressed the matter during various streams with popular content creators.
Marathon’s Gameplay Director, Andrew Witts, acknowledged the concerns, stating that the issue is “very much on our radar.” Witts explained that the aim assist feature is part of a “purposeful test” designed to assess the dynamics between different control schemes.
He further clarified that the implementation of aim assist was not assumed to be the final version and that they were using the Alpha period to gauge its effectiveness.
NEW: Marathon’s Gameplay Director Andrew Witts spoke on the Aim Assist in the game and why they did it, and even says they might change it before the Alpha is over
“Our assumption is not that we are going to get it right…we wanted to use this opportunity to try it out.”
via… pic.twitter.com/uvjXfpmifC
— Marathon Intel (@MarathonIntel) April 24, 2025
Looking ahead, Witts suggested that there may be adjustments made before the Alpha testing concludes, but no specific changes have been confirmed as of yet.
Source
www.dexerto.com