Helldivers 2 and Marathon: A Perfect Pairing

Sure thing, here we go:

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Man, if you haven’t heard about Helldivers 2, you might be living under a rock or something. It’s been, what, over a year now? This game just refuses to chill with its domination in the online multiplayer world. Kinda impressive, right? Even though it’s tightly held by Sony’s loving arms, folks are still flocking to it like seagulls to a picnic (I swear, those birds are scary). But, yeah, the game’s live-service formula — it’s like they cracked some secret gamer code or something. It’s got everything: multiplayer stuff, a third-person view, and this weird mishmash of genres that gives it a fresh twist. Like adding hot sauce to your favorite dish — you didn’t know it needed it until you tried it.

Now, not to drag things out, but even though Helldivers 2 isn’t technically an extraction shooter — like, not on the label, ya know — it’s got its sneaky fingers in that pie. Think about it: jump into a map, wrap up some goals, grab loot before time hits you like a brick. Feels extraction-y, doesn’t it? Almost like they copied someone’s homework but did enough changes so the teacher wouldn’t notice. And speaking of which, ever hear of Bungie’s Marathon? It’s waving the full-on extraction flag. These games might look totally different at first glance, but they’re kinda like distant cousins if you squint hard enough. Marathon could be that spicy dish Helldivers players didn’t know they needed.

Got distracted there, but here’s the thing, Helldivers 2 doesn’t punish you for losing a match — you still walk away with something to show. Marathon though, more intense. Hardcore. Like diving deep into the adrenaline pool. No reward for the faint-hearted. It’s that challenge some Helldivers might be itching for.

Now, climbing to the top like Helldivers did? It ain’t a walk in the park, no sir. Marathon’s been the talk of the town, everyone’s looking forward to it. But whispers of doubt are making their rounds — didn’t help that after a Closed Alpha test, players jumped on socials waving red flags, cautioning delays. Nothing like some juicy drama to get the gears turning, huh? Player drop-off post-Alpha was like watching your dreams slip through your fingers. Oof.

And rumors of an Open Beta in August? Still just that, rumors. Bungie’s keeping mum about it, the suspense is killing me. Okay, maybe a bit melodramatic, but you get what I mean.

Alright, I lost my train of thought somewhere back there, like a TV static in my head. Anyway — so where were we? Oh yeah, if Bungie polishes Marathon just right, we might be staring down a friendly face-off between it and Helldivers. Both are decked out in kick-ass sci-fi universes. It’s like choosing between pizza toppings — both options hold their own charm. Helldivers with its PvE third-person gig, and Marathon smashing it with PvP vibes. Marathon’s still marinating, but it could bring some serious heat, making both games like two sides of the same shiny coin.

Didn’t expect this to stretch on so long, but hey, Marathon’s expected to show up around September 2025, provided no more hiccups dance their way into the timeline. PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S — pick your poison. Price? A mystery. Bungie’s tight-lipped, adding fuel to the skepticism fire. Some folks are paranoid about price hikes post-Nintendo’s bold moves. Can’t blame them, wallets have feelings too. Guess we’ll just have to see if Marathon can strut its stuff and give Helldivers a run for its money. Or at least make it sweat.