Marathon Kicks Off Duo Testing This Week

Since the launch of Marathon on March 5, players have been clamoring for a duos queue. Game director Joseph Ziegler announced on Monday that the team will introduce a duos queue as an “experimental feature.”

“Starting Wednesday morning, 3/18 at 10am PT, we’ll activate a limited-time duos queue on Perimeter to see how the game performs with teams of two on a larger scale,” he shared on social media, noting that the test will last about two weeks but could be adjusted. There will be no matchmaking, so players can only join the queue if they’re already in a duo. The option “Perimeter – Duo” will be available in the zone select screen.

“Some aspects might be a bit janky,” Ziegler acknowledged.

He also pointed out that this isn’t the final iteration of duos, whether in terms of structure or user interface, but it’s the fastest way to get it into players’ hands for testing. It appears that Rooks, the solo-only runner shell with a preloaded kit, won’t be able to join this lobby.

The main challenge for duos is likely balance. Alongside PvE enemies, each Marathon match features several teams of three and some Rooks. With maps of varying sizes, achieving the right number of squads for a balanced experience can be tricky.

Perimeter, the sole map for this test, is the game’s most open and expansive area, and it’s the starting map that players are most familiar with. Typically, it accommodates around five teams of three, totaling 15 players, so for this test, we can expect around seven or eight pairs. Testing a duos mode is essential because too many pairs could lead to constant skirmishes, while too few might make the map feel deserted.

It’s impressive to see how quickly the team has responded to player feedback. Marathon has only been out for a couple of weeks, and the demand for duos has been so strong that the developers are acting on it.

Why is there such a strong desire for duos? As a Rook, you can’t complete any faction contract quests for progression. Going solo as another runner shell is risky and puts you at a significant disadvantage. Since Marathon encourages effective communication and teamwork, relying on matchmaking to fill your squad can yield mixed results. Even if you’re teamed up with a friend and fill that third slot, many players don’t use a microphone and may wander off alone. In a game this intense, that can lead to a quick demise against a coordinated squad.

Playing with a single friend is about to become much easier and potentially more rewarding. Whether duos becomes a permanent feature or not, this initial test clearly shows that the developers are open to evolving Marathon in real time, with players actively involved in that process.

Get ready, runner!