- Marathon arrives on March 5th for PC and consoles with a price of 39,99 euros and a focus on the multiplayer extraction shooter genre.
- The PC requirements are unusually low for a modern AAA title, allowing you to play on hardware from almost a decade ago.
- Bungie prioritizes fluidity and accessibility: from a GTX 1050 Ti and 8 GB of RAM as minimums to an RTX 2060 and 16 GB of RAM as recommended.
- The game also takes advantage of consoles, with an enhanced version on PS5 Pro that renders internally at 5K using PSSR.
The new Marathon Bungie's game has caught the attention of many PC gamers, but not only for reclaiming a historic record, but for something much more down-to-earth: its surprisingly low technical requirementsIn a context where every major release seems to demand a high-end device, this extraction shooter's proposal points in the opposite direction.
With the premiere set for the 5 March On PC (Steam and Epic Games Store) and on next-gen consoles, the studio has already published the list of minimum and recommended requirementsThe data, visible on the Steam page, paints an unusual picture for current AAA games: modest, accessible hardware, far removed from the top-of-the-range configurations that have been almost the norm in recent years.
A historic comeback turned into an extraction shooter
Before becoming the studio associated for years with Halo and later to DestinyBungie was already playing in the field of first-person science fiction with Marathon, a shooter that debuted in the mid-90s in Apple MacintoshThat project spawned two sequels - Marathon 2: Durandal and Marathon Infinity - and helped cement the studio's reputation.
Thirty years after that last release, Bungie revives the license with a very different approach. The new title is not a simple remaster or remake of the 1994 game, but a reboot planned from scratch as an extraction shooter, a subgenre in which the key is not just eliminating enemies, but entering, looting and evacuating alive to preserve the loot.
In this new phase, Marathon shares space with proposals such as A.R.C. Raiders, one of the most talked-about productions in the genre recently. The difference is that Bungie seems to have taken special care with the PC optimizationaware that a game heavily focused on competitive multiplayer needs to reach as many teams as possible.
The setting leads the player to Tau Ceti IVA ruined science fiction colony where every incursion presents a delicate balance between exploration and PvP combat. Teams can be formed brigades of up to three players, with a maximum of 18 participants per game, in scenarios that combine abandoned research facilities, outdoor areas and UESC security posts.
Minimum requirements: hardware from almost a decade ago
One of the facts that has attracted the most attention is the minimum graphics card that Bungie indicates is required to play. According to the official information sheet, only one NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4GB or a AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 4GB, two low/mid-range models that traditionally operated in the realm of modest equipment.
The GTX 1050 Ti is especially significant: it is a GPU released in 2016That is, with almost a decade behind it. Even so, the study considers it sufficient to run the game on PC in playable conditions, something that contrasts with many recent titles which require much more powerful graphics cards even in the minimum configuration.
In terms of processor, the bar is also set reasonably high. The minimum requirements are a Intel Core i5-6600 or an AMD Ryzen 5 2600, accompanied by 8 GB of RAM and operating system Windows 10 64-bitThese aren't exactly the latest CPUs, but they are models that have become very popular in Europe and are still found in many desktop computers.
At the software level, the game requires DirectX 12 and a broadband connectionThis makes sense, given that it's a title entirely focused on online play. What hasn't yet been specified is what anti-cheat system the studio will use, or whether it will be necessary to have features like [insert specific features here] enabled. TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot, a requirement that in other releases has caused more than one headache, especially in older equipment.
Recommended requirements: very affordable mid-range
Los recommended requirements They don't shoot up either. For those who want to go a step further in fluidity and image quality, Bungie has set a target of... Intel Core i5-10400 or an AMD Ryzen 5 3500, together with 16 GB of RAMAgain, these are mid-range configurations that many PC users in Spain and Europe already use in relatively affordable gaming rigs.
In terms of graphics, the recommended list falls within the usual range of recent mid-range GPUs: a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6GBa whirlpool bath, AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 8GB or a Intel Arc A770 16GBWith these cards, the study aims for a more stable experience, theoretically designed for 1080p and 60 FPS with high settingsHowever, the Steam listing does not specify exact resolutions or frame rates.
For Intel Arc cards, both in minimum (Arc A580) and recommended (Arc A770) specifications, Bungie indicates an additional requirement: ReBAR (Resizable BAR) needs to be activatedThis feature allows the CPU to access all of the GPU's memory more efficiently, something especially relevant in Intel's architecture and which can make a difference in performance if not configured correctly.
Apart from these specific points, the rest of the recommended configuration remains fairly standard: Windows 10 64-bit, support for DirectX 12 and a stable internet connection. Storage isn't discussed in detail in the published information, but given the typical size of these multiplayer games, it's safe to assume that a significant amount of disk space will be required.
Although Bungie has not yet published an official chart linking each hardware level to a specific resolution and FPS, the game environment itself suggests that The minimum requirements are set at Full HD (1080p) and 30 FPS with low quality, while the recommended configuration would aim for 1080p and 60 FPS in high qualityFor higher resolutions, such as 1440p or even 4K, it will be logical to think about more powerful equipment, but the base model makes it clear that the entry point is intended to be broad.
Moderate visual design and focus on performance
Unlike other titles that strive for an ultra-realistic graphical finish, Marathon opts for a more stylized aestheticWith a highly recognizable design but without pushing the visual load to the limit. That fits with the nature of extraction shooters, where response speed and image clarity They tend to weigh more than pure technical spectacle.
The materials released so far show a game with polished effects and animations, but without the layer of textures and filters that so often compromises performance on modest PCs. It's not a "retro" product, but rather a game that attempts to gain in readability and fluency during the most intense combat situations.
This approach is also reflected in the technical requirements. For a competitive multiplayer title to run on a GTX 1050 Ti 4GB or a RX 5500 XT This can make a significant difference for players who don't intend to upgrade their equipment in the short term, something especially relevant in European markets where hardware price remains a major factor.
It remains to be seen, however, to what extent the real optimization beyond theory. Many games have entered the market with moderate official requirementsHowever, performance fell short of expectations in certain configurations. In the case of Marathon, we'll have to wait for tests on a variety of systems (not just high-end PCs) to see if its performance in Spain and the rest of Europe lives up to expectations.
Gameplay experience: raids, loot, and persistent progression
Beyond the technical specifications, Marathon is built around a gameplay loop heavily influenced by risk and resource management. Each incursion presents a tour through hostile areas in search of loot, under constant pressure from other players and the AI, and with the obligation to evacuate alive to preserve what they have gained.
The games can be faced by forming brigades of three players or as ROOK, a lone runner which comes without initial equipment. This second option adds an extra layer of tension: the possibility of forge temporary alliances through proximity chat, always with the risk of a last-minute betrayal to steal someone else's loot.
The progression revolves around six runner frameseach geared towards a different style – from direct destruction to reconnaissance or theft. Custom configurations are then built upon this foundation using Modifiable weapons, body implants, and enhancement cores, which allows you to adapt the character to your preferred play style.
Successfully completing raids allows accumulate seasonal power and unlock cosmetic rewardsA familiar setup for those coming from Destiny or other live-service shooters. Throughout each season, the various rival factions offer contracts that reinforce this persistent progress and that become intertwined with the overall narrative of the expedition.
The biggest challenge is concentrated in the so-called Cryoarchive of the UESC Marathon, a high-stakes zone where heavily equipped brigades compete for forbidden artifacts and secrets which, according to the game's own fiction, even the UESC would prefer to keep hidden. All of this reinforces that feeling of constant escalation in risk and reward that defines the genre.
Price, platforms and context for PC gamers in Europe
Marathon will be launched in PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S with a price of 39,99 Euros For the standard edition, a figure somewhat below what has become the norm for many AAA releases. For those who play on PC, the combination of moderate price and low requirements This can be especially attractive at a time when upgrading hardware involves a considerable outlay.
In the case of the PC, the intention seems clear: to expand the potential user base as much as possible. The fact that it's possible to play games acceptably with a processor like the Core i5-6600 or Ryzen 5 2600 And a modest GPU opens the door to a large number of systems that, in other modern titles, are relegated to very compromised or directly incompatible configurations.
For Europe, where many gamers still use older configurations and prioritize partial upgrades (just changing the graphics card or increasing the RAM), this policy on system requirements is particularly appealing. In principle, it won't be necessary to upgrade to the latest generation of graphics cards or high-end CPUs to enjoy [the game/platform]. stable sessions at 1080pThis also lowers the barrier to entry for new players in the genre.
It is true that some questions remain, such as the potential impact of the anti-cheat system on compatibility with certain motherboards or older BIOS versions, but for now the main message is quite clear: Marathon aims to be playable on a wide variety of teams without requiring large investments.
PS5 Pro version: internal 5K rendering
On consoles, Bungie has also focused on taking advantage of the extra capabilities of the PlayStation 5 Pro. According to information published on the official PlayStation website, Marathon has an enhanced version for PS5 Pro which uses PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) technology to upscale the image.
Sony's description indicates that the game It renders internally at a 5K resolution. and combines it with an exit to Crisp and stable 4Kso that the "runner's view" remains clear even when the action gets frantic. The AI upscaling system thus allows for a more detailed image without demanding a disproportionate performance cost.
It's worth remembering that there are hardly any 5K screens for home use and that, in practice, the output will still be 4K on most TVs and monitors. The relevant point here is that Internal rendering starts from a higher resolution base.This, if implemented correctly, should result in a visible improvement in sharpness and a reduction in scaling artifacts.
What has not yet been finalized are the frames per second The objective of this specific version on PS5 Pro is unknown, as is whether there will be alternative performance modes (for example, prioritizing FPS over resolution). In any case, the message is similar to that of the PC version: prioritize a smooth and readable experience above all else, pushing the visual aspect to the extreme.
With this cross-platform approach—accessible PC and consoles with enhanced modes without going overboard—Marathon positions itself as a title that attempts to balance technology and gameplay. For Spanish and European players who want to join the extraction shooter genre without upgrading half their equipment, The combination of moderate requirements, intense multiplayer, and a reasonable price This makes Bungie's new offering a release to watch closely.
