Players of Marathon are reporting that Rooks—typically solo participants—are effectively forming in-game alliances and cooperating with one another. This shift is notable, as the game’s meta has traditionally lacked the kind of friendly teamwork seen in competitors like Arc Raiders. Paired with its intense and dangerous PvE elements, Marathon usually offers a highly hostile experience.

Like many extraction-style games, Marathon includes a system that lets players enter matches using basic, non-owned gear. These loadouts typically feature low-tier armor, a simple weapon without attachments, and a few healing items. Similar mechanics exist in other games, such as the “scav run” in Escape From Tarkov and the “free loadout” in Arc Raiders. Marathon, however, offers two variations of this system.

Figure 1. Solo Players Unite in Marathon, Leaving Teams on Edge

One option is the sponsored kit, which works much like similar systems in other extraction games, providing players with basic gear to enter a match. Figure 1 shows Solo Players Unite in Marathon, Leaving Teams on Edge.

The other option is playing as a Rook, which comes with several unique mechanics. Rooks can temporarily avoid detection from UESC (PvE) enemies, are limited to solo players, and can only join matches already in progress. They are also restricted to lobbies filled with trios and other Rooks—meaning there are no dedicated solo-only matches.

In a Reddit post titled “What is going on with Rooks on Outpost?”, user soaero described multiple encounters where their team was overwhelmed by groups of four or five Rooks who appeared simultaneously and launched coordinated attacks. According to the post, some Rooks seem to be gathering others during matches and forming improvised gangs.

In a direct message to Polygon, soaero explained that these Rooks executed organized ambushes, even using bait tactics. In one instance, two Rooks were heard talking; after one was eliminated, the other provoked the team into pursuing them—only for hidden Rooks nearby to spring a trap and wipe them out. A similar घटना occurred later, when a coordinated group of Rooks using proximity chat suddenly descended on their team in another location.

Marathon has largely been a shoot-on-sight experience, making this emerging behavior—where Rook players cooperate using proximity chat—highly unusual. Curious to witness it firsthand, the Reddit user joined a match on Outpost as a Rook.

After a few runs, they were approached by another Rook who suggested teaming up, delivering the line, “all you have to lose are your chains,” a reference to the famous quote from The Communist Manifesto. The moment resonated with other players, with one commenting they’d “follow that Rook anywhere,” while another called it one of the hardest in-game lines they’d ever heard.

In a private message, soaero shared that their time playing as a Rook on Outpost has evolved into a highly cooperative experience. Instead of immediate combat, they now call out to nearby players, explain their progress toward objectives like opening the Pinwheel or Command Wing, and gauge whether others are willing to collaborate.

They described the role-playing aspect as unexpectedly entertaining, recalling moments like being recruited by a team as “New Steve,” their unofficial pet Rook, and guiding them through objectives. Other encounters included creative voice acting, such as a downed Rook dramatically begging for death—only for another to ambush during the interaction.

Reflecting on the broader gameplay dynamic, soaero compared Marathon’s design to a classic prisoner’s dilemma: while attacking first can yield maximum rewards, mutual cooperation allows both sides to benefit. For Rooks, who start with little to lose and minimal incentive to fight each other, the abundance of loot and shared goals increasingly encourages teamwork over conflict.

Even Bungie has begun to take notice of these emerging player behaviors, though they took time to develop—much like in Arc Raiders, where the atmosphere only softened after players became familiar with PvE-focused play. Marathon now appears to be following a similar trajectory.

Emanuel Rosu, the game’s principal producer, explained that Rooks didn’t initially form a clear identity on maps like Perimeter and Dire Marsh [1]. However, once players reached Outpost, cooperative behavior began to emerge, with groups of Rooks banding together to raid objectives like the Pinwheel. He noted that the development team is closely observing how players interact and how game design can encourage different playstyles.

Nick Clifford, principal marketing manager, added that when the community builds its own identity—such as the idea that Rooks are stronger together—the team is eager to embrace and celebrate it.

While Marathon is unlikely to introduce fully PvE-only lobbies, as it lacks aggression-based matchmaking like Arc Raiders, this shift toward reduced hostility is a welcome change—especially in challenging areas like Outpost and Cryo Archive. Although the game leans toward conflict, engaging in combat with other players is not strictly necessary.

References:

1. https://www.polygon.com/marathon-rooks-teams-outpost/

Cite this article:

Janani R (2025), Solo Marathon Players Form Alliances, Leaving Teams on Edge, AnaTechMaz, pp. 411