Marathon’s Free Loadout Class Comes With A Few Limitations

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I’m really excited about Marathon! It’s cool that they have lots of different character options, and a free starting loadout called Rook. It’s a little limited compared to some other games in the genre, but that’s probably to keep things fair. It’s been a tough year for the developers, honestly. The initial testing phase wasn’t great, and they had some issues with art that caused the game to get pushed back to 2026. But after seeing the game again this month, I’m feeling a lot more optimistic about it now!

After taking extra time to develop the game, Bungie clearly listened to player feedback. They fixed visual problems and added popular features like nearby voice chat and a solo player option. They also enhanced the game with richer environments, improved lighting, and more overall content. Marathon is scheduled to launch on March 5th – sooner than many anticipated – and Bungie is offering a free weekend before launch so players can try it out. While Marathon is fundamentally an extraction shooter, it also includes some unique elements that set it apart from other games in the genre.

Marathon’s “Free Loadout” Comes With Limitations

A key part of the gameplay is the introduction of ‘shells,’ which are like character classes, each with unique abilities and drawbacks. These shells let players specialize in different roles within the game, such as the combat-focused Destroyer, the support-oriented Triage, or the loot-collecting Thief. Bungie wants players to choose a shell that matches how they like to play, and they’re also planning to add more customization options to personalize the experience.

In the game Marathon, there’s a ‘Rook’ class that lets new players join matches with basic gear without putting their own earned items at risk. To balance the game, Marathon is adding some limitations to the Rook class. Players who choose Rook will enter matches a bit later than others, and they can only play solo—they won’t be able to join matches with friends. This gives players risking their gear a chance to grab the best items first, while Rook players will have to find what’s left. Though easily identifiable by their appearance, Rook characters have a special ability: enemy NPCs will completely ignore them.

Image via Bungie

These changes might be a reaction to the current situation with Embark Studios’ game, ARC Raiders. Many players have expressed frustration with ARC Raiders‘ system of providing a free, randomized set of basic gear. This allows players to participate in player-versus-player combat or try to collect valuable items without risking losing their own equipment. What makes it different is that even the most basic weapons in the game, like the Stitcher, are surprisingly effective, letting players stay competitive even if they die. Another key point is that choosing a free loadout in ARC Raiders has few limitations – just a smaller inventory and no secure storage. This means players can confidently start matches knowing their starting-level weapon will still be useful.

Look, I get why everyone’s annoyed about how easy it seems to get away with using free loadouts in ARC Raiders. The devs at Embark are definitely hearing us. They haven’t said anything for sure, but people like the design lead, Virgil Watkins, have hinted that they’re thinking about changing things. They could tweak what you get in those free loadouts, maybe limit how much stuff you can carry, or even make them heavier to start with. Another idea they’re tossing around is a really tough raid that doesn’t let you use free loadouts at all. Nothing is decided yet, but apparently, Bungie’s plan for Marathon – this ‘Rook’ idea – is getting some attention, and if that takes off, Embark might decide to make some changes of their own. We’ll just have to wait and see!

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2026-01-30 18:48