Bungie is cracking down on cheaters in its upcoming multiplayer shooter Marathon. In a blog post detailing the game’s network and security systems, the studio warned that anyone caught cheating will be permanently banned from playing the game and not given a second chance.
Bungie says it rebuilt Marathon’s security architecture from the ground up to protect the integrity of these games and ensure that player success is based on skill, not heroics.
Marathon’s security systems and fraud policies
To make cheating difficult, Marathon runs on trusted dedicated servers that control key gameplay actions such as fighting, looting, and movement. This means that player devices cannot unilaterally dictate outcomes or manipulate the game state in their favor. Additional systems like Fog of War limit the information shared with players and reduce the effectiveness of common cheats like wall hacks or loot revealers.
Bungie clearly states that “anyone found to be cheating or cheating will be permanently banned from playing Marathon and not given a second chance.” This zero-tolerance policy is different from other games that allow multiple violations before more serious consequences occur.
Bungie acknowledges that no anti-cheat system is perfect and says it will maintain an appeals process for players who believe they have been unfairly reported. The company also uses analytics to monitor gameplay for unusual patterns and anomalies that could indicate cheating.
As Marathon’s Server Slam open preview weekend approaches and the game’s release is scheduled for next month, players will soon be able to test these security tools first-hand.
Marathon is a competitive extraction shooter set in the world of Tau Ceti IV, where players search for loot and combat both enemies and environmental threats.
After a long delay, the game is finally set to release with a confirmed release date and full cross-platform support for consoles and PC.
