Bungie has announced an intriguing new experiment for its extraction shooter Marathon, introducing a limited-time Duos-Mode that allows players to form squads of just two instead of the standard trios. This test comes shortly after the game's launch on March 5, 2026, on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, as developers continue to refine the experience based on early player engagement. Game director Joe Ziegler shared the news, highlighting the team's interest in exploring how smaller team sizes impact gameplay dynamics in this PvPvE title set on the mysterious planet Tau Ceti IV.
"Alright everyone, we're going a bit rogue here," Ziegler said. "We have a bit of an experimental feature that's in development we want to test and we'd love for you to help. As of Wednesday morning 3/18 at 10 AM PT, we'll be enabling a limited time duos queue on Perimeter only to test how the game plays with crews of two at a wider scale."
The test includes several specific parameters to ensure focused data collection, as Zeigler notes:
The test will take place only on the game's Perimeter map (for now).
The test will "last about two weeks," though Ziegler says that timeframe could be reduced or increased depending on how things play out.
Players can only enter duos matches with a premade squad, as there is no ability to solo queue in duos mode.
Duos squads will only be matched with other duos squads.
Duos can be accessed by selecting "Perimeter: Duo" from the zone select screen, though this is "not the intended UX flow" for the mode and will likely change if it is implemented permanently.
"Some things will be a bit jank."
"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 said. "This likely won't be the final implementation of how it would look and flow in the game, but for now it was [the] easiest way for us to get it to you all to help us test."
This cautious rollout reflects Bungie's iterative approach to Marathon's development, prioritizing real-world testing over immediate full integration. By limiting the mode to one map and a short window, the team can assess balance, pacing, and matchmaking implications without overhauling core systems prematurely. Such experiments are valuable in extraction shooters, where squad size can significantly influence strategy, resource management, and encounter intensity.
"Pending what we learn, we're hoping to expand duos as a queue in the future, and we wanted to take this first step sooner than later so we could understand how it affects our game better before investing a lot more time in fleshing out the feature," he explained.
The introduction of Duos-Mode addresses a common request in team-based multiplayer games, offering flexibility for players who prefer smaller groups or have limited friends online. In Marathon, where Runners navigate dangerous zones, extract loot, and face both environmental threats and rival teams, a two-player setup could encourage tighter coordination and different tactical approaches compared to the established trios format. Bungie has emphasized ongoing evolution for the title, with Ziegler noting that this is part of a broader commitment to adapting based on data and feedback.
"This is unlikely to be the last experiment we run, so look forward to more as we continue to evolve Marathon," Ziegler added. "FOR SCIENCE!!"
As Marathon continues its post-launch phase, this duos test represents an early sign of Bungie's responsiveness to community input while maintaining the experimental spirit that has defined the project's revival. The experiment underscores Bungie's dedication to refining Marathon into a lasting multiplayer experience.
