Some players logged into Marathon and promptly found themselves taking more bullets than usual. A PC Gamer writer noticed the same pattern and so did a lot of other players. Many of them pointed at one small but powerful change in the patch notes: shots and explosions could now be heard from farther away.

What actually changed

The patch notes included one short line that mattered a lot in practice: the audible range for gunfire and explosions was increased. In a game where noise draws enemies, making gunshots audible from further away meant fights started sooner and sneaky plays became riskier.

Players reacted

The new audio behavior made the maps feel more hostile overnight. People complained that distant firefights sounded like they were happening right next to them, exposing positions and leading to faster deaths. That reaction was loud enough that Bungie noticed quickly.

Bungie's response

"We recognize that this was an overcorrection and will pull things back in a way that maintains your ability to hear each other's actions, but not at a distance that feels excessive. We're still aligning on how to ensure the best player experience, and will deploy changes in an upcoming update."

In a follow-up message, Bungie explained the intent was to give players more information about distant events, but they said they overdid the adjustment. The plan is to keep the benefit of better situational awareness while reducing the range so it feels more reasonable.

When will it be fixed?

Bungie did not attach a specific date to the tweak. Given how many players noticed and complained, a corrective update seems likely to arrive soon, but no firm timeline has been announced.

Short-term tips while you wait

  • Be quieter: Shoot less recklessly and avoid unnecessary noise.
  • Use cover: Assume enemies might hear you from farther away and play a bit more cautiously.
  • Communicate: Share sound cues with teammates so they can help cover exposed positions.

In short: an audio tweak intended to help players ended up making the game feel harsher. Bungie admits it was too far and says it will dial the change back in a future update.