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Marathon vs Red Dead Redemption 2
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| shopping_cart Where to Buy | |
| info General Information | |
| Release Date | |
| Dec 9, 2025 | Oct 26, 2018 |
| Developer | |
| Bungie | Rockstar Studios (Rockstar San Diego, Rockstar North, Rockstar Toronto, Rockstar New England, Rockstar London, Rockstar Lincoln, Rockstar Leeds, Rockstar India) |
| Publisher | |
| Bungie | Rockstar Games |
| Genre(s) | |
| PvPvE Extraction Shooter | Action-Adventure, Open World, Western, Third-Person Shooter, First-Person Shooter |
| Engine | |
| Tiger Engine (Modified) | RAGE (Rockstar Advanced Game Engine) |
| stars Ratings & Price | |
| Content Rating | |
| Mature | Mature 17+ |
| Avg. User Rating | |
| 4.7 / 5.0 | 4.8 / 5.0 |
| Current Price (USD) | |
| Free | $59.99 |
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| tune Key Specs | |
| Quick Highlights | |
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| sports_esports Gameplay & Mechanics | |
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| Key Themes | |
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| colorize Combat & Gear | |
| Weapons Overview | |
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| Outfits/Customization | |
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| trending_up Progression & Upgrades | |
| Skills & Progression | |
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Progression is horizontal and vertical. Faction reputation unlocks permanent skill tree nodes, while 'Cores' and 'Implants' allow for deep buildcrafting. Players upgrade Heat Capacity, Agility, and Loot Speed to survive longer. 'Schemas' allow players to craft lost weapons, though most gear is reset every season. |
Arthur Morgan's core attributes (Health, Stamina, Dead Eye) level up through gameplay actions (e.g., running increases stamina, headshots increase Dead Eye). Gear upgrades (bandoliers, satchels, holsters) are crafted by Pearson at the gang camp using animal pelts and other materials, increasing carrying capacity. Weapons can be customized extensively (barrels, sights, stocks, wraps, engravings) and cleaned to maintain performance. Tonics and provisions provide temporary buffs. Horse bonding is crucial, unlocking new maneuvers and increasing horse stats. Camp upgrades provide benefits like better provisions and fast travel. |
| public World & Exploration | |
| World & Level Design | |
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The game features massive, distinct zones: Perimeter (Industrial), Dire Marsh (Biological/Greenery), and Outpost (Heist-focused). An endgame raid-like zone, The Cryo Archive, is set on the derelict Marathon ship itself. Maps are littered with environmental hazards like toxic plants and automated security turrets. |
The game world is exceptionally large, detailed, and diverse. Regions include the snowy mountains of Ambarino, the heartland plains and forests of New Hanover, the swampy bayous and antebellum towns of Lemoyne, the developing plains and forests of West Elizabeth, and the arid deserts and canyons of New Austin (largely based on the map from the first Red Dead Redemption). Each region has unique ecosystems, wildlife, towns, and points of interest. |
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| book Story & Characters | |
| Main Characters | |
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| Example Missions | |
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| people Multiplayer | |
| Multiplayer Details | |
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The core mode is a PvPvE extraction loop for squads of 1-3. Features include 'Standard' runs and 'Rook' runs (late-join, zero-risk solo scavenging). Proximity voice chat is active but audible to enemies. |
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| extension Editions & DLC | |
| Available Editions | |
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Marathon is a free-to-play live service title. Premium Reward Passes offer seasonal cosmetics, early access to certain 'Liaison' contracts, and permanent 'Prestige Schemas' that do not reset during the seasonal global wipe. |
Available in Standard Edition, Special Edition (included extra story mode content like a bank robbery mission, gang hideout, gameplay boosts, an outfit, and a thoroughbred horse), and Ultimate Edition (included Special Edition content plus bonus Red Dead Online content like outfits, rank bonuses, a black chestnut thoroughbred, and free access to additional weapons). A Collector's Box (no game included) was also sold with physical collectibles. |
| Post-Launch Content / DLC | |
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Marathon follows a 3-month seasonal cycle. Each season includes a 'Global Wipe' of gear and credits, new Faction Priority contracts, and the introduction of new Runner Shells or map expansions like 'The Cryo Archive'. |
The primary post-launch support has been for Red Dead Online, which has received numerous updates adding new roles (Bounty Hunter, Trader, Collector, Moonshiner, Naturalist), missions, cosmetic items, gameplay mechanics, and seasonal events. No single-player story DLC has been released for Red Dead Redemption 2. |
| help_outline FAQ | |
| Frequently Asked Questions | |
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| build Technical Details | |
| Graphics & Visual Fidelity | |
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Utilizes a unique, high-saturation color palette with cel-shaded elements. The visuals emphasize bold iconography and high-contrast environments to aid in threat detection. |
Powered by an advanced version of the RAGE engine, RDR2 is renowned for its groundbreaking graphics and attention to detail. It features stunningly realistic environments, lifelike character and animal animations, advanced lighting (volumetric lighting, global illumination), dynamic weather systems (rain, snow, fog), and incredible texture quality. The level of environmental detail and interaction is exceptionally high. |
| Audio & Soundtrack | |
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The game utilizes 'Audio Propagation' as a core mechanic. Sounds like bird flocks, reloading, or water splashes alert enemies. The score is a mix of synth-wave and industrial ambient tracks that ramp up during the Final Exfil. |
Original score composed by Woody Jackson, with contributions from various artists. The music is dynamic, reacting to gameplay and location, featuring sweeping orchestral pieces, folk tunes, and atmospheric tracks that perfectly capture the Western setting and emotional tone. Features over 100 anachronistically appropriate licensed songs. Sound design is incredibly detailed, from weapon sounds and horse hooves to ambient wildlife and environmental effects. |
| User Interface (UI/UX) | |
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A minimalist, diegetic HUD that mimics a Runner's visor. Vital info like the Heat Meter and 'Trace' stats on gear are integrated into the character's visual overlay. |
Immersive UI with options for a dynamic HUD. Health/Stamina/Dead Eye cores are displayed, along with a radar/mini-map. Weapon wheel for selection. Interaction prompts are contextual. The game features a detailed journal kept by Arthur, cataloging his thoughts, sketches, and discoveries. First-person mode offers a different UI perspective. |
| Accessibility Options | |
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Includes full controller remapping, colorblind modes for threat highlighting, visual sound indicators for footsteps, and adjustable FOV sliders on all platforms. |
Includes options for customizable controls (including sensitivity and dead zones), subtitle customization (size, background, speaker names), aim assist levels, options to tap or hold for interactions, colorblind modes, audio balancing, and a cinematic camera mode. First-person mode can also be considered an accessibility option for some. |
| video_library Media Links | |
| Gameplay Video | |
| launchWatch | launchWatch |
| Walkthrough/Guide | |
| launchView | launchView |
| settings_applications System Requirements | |
| 1080p (Full HD) - Recommended (Targets 1080p, High settings, ~144+ FPS) (Competitive/High Preset, 1080p resolution, aiming for high-refresh-rate gameplay.) CPU: Powerful CPUs with high cache are recommended to push high framerates in extraction scenarios. CPU (Laptop): High-performance mobile CPUs needed for stable frame delivery during intense firefights. GPU: Strong GPUs from the previous generation are recommended for high settings and high framerates. GPU (Laptop): A high-TGP RTX 4070 or 3080 Laptop is the target for high-quality, high-FPS 1080p gameplay. RAM: While 16GB is the baseline, 32GB is recommended for system longevity and background apps. Storage: Mandatory for the recommended tier. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i7-12700K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti (8GB) or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (16GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-12700H / AMD Ryzen 7 6800H or better. laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop (8GB/16GB), RTX 4070 Laptop (8GB). (Future-proof: RTX 5060 Laptop) layersRAM: 16 GB saveStorage (Tier): 100 GB SSD | — |
| 1080p (Full HD) - Minimum (Targets 1080p, Low settings, ~60 FPS) (Low Preset, 1080p resolution, with FSR/DLSS Performance, targeting a stable 60 FPS.) CPU: A modern 6-core processor is the likely baseline to handle the game's player counts and physics. CPU (Laptop): Capable mobile CPUs required for a stable 60 FPS baseline experience. GPU: A dedicated GPU with ray tracing/upscaling hardware support will likely be the minimum entry point. GPU (Laptop): An RTX laptop GPU is essential for leveraging DLSS to maintain playable framerates on entry-level hardware. RAM: 16GB of RAM is the standard requirement for modern AAA multiplayer titles. Storage: SSD is mandatory for playability. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i5-9600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB) or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (6GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-10750H / AMD Ryzen 5 4600H or better. laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop (4GB), RTX 2060 Mobile (6GB). (Future-proof: RTX 4050 Laptop) layersRAM: 16 GB saveStorage (Tier): 100 GB SSD | — |
| 1080p (Full HD) - Recommended (1080p ~60 FPS, High Preset) (High Preset) CPU: Recommended desktop CPU for 1080p at 60 FPS. CPU (Laptop): Estimated mid-range to high-end laptop CPUs. GPU: Recommended desktop GPU for 1080p at 60 FPS on High. GPU (Laptop): Estimated performance-focused laptop GPUs. 6GB+ VRAM is crucial. RAM: 12GB minimum, 16GB strongly recommended for smoother performance. Storage: SSD strongly recommended. | |
| — | memoryCPU: Intel Core i7-4770K or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB) or AMD Radeon RX 480 (4GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-7700HQ / AMD Ryzen 7 2700U or better. **Modern Intel Core i7 H-series / AMD Ryzen 7 H-series (e.g., i7-11800H, Ryzen 7 5800H) strongly recommended.** laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Mobile (6GB) / RTX 2060 Mobile (6GB) / RTX 3060 Mobile (6GB, High TGP) or AMD Radeon RX 5600M/5700M. **An RTX 3060 Mobile (High TGP) or RTX 4060 Mobile is a good target for 1080p High 60FPS.** layersRAM: 12 GB saveStorage (Tier): 150 GB SSD |
| 1080p (Full HD) - Minimum (1080p ~30 FPS, Low/Medium Preset) (Low to Medium Preset) CPU: Minimum desktop CPU for 1080p at lower settings. CPU (Laptop): Estimated laptop CPU equivalent. Newer i5/Ryzen 5 H-series or better recommended. GPU: Minimum desktop GPU for 1080p at lower settings. GPU (Laptop): Estimated laptop GPUs. Game is very VRAM intensive. RAM: Minimum RAM requirement. Storage: HDD is absolute minimum, expect long load times. | |
| — | memoryCPU: Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD FX-6300 developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770 (2GB) or AMD Radeon R9 280 (3GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-4700HQ / AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (Laptop equivalent) or better laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Mobile (4GB) / GTX 1650 Mobile (4GB) or AMD Radeon RX 560X Mobile. **An RTX 3050 Mobile or RTX 4050 Mobile would be a more comfortable entry point for 1080p Medium settings.** layersRAM: 8 GB saveStorage (Tier): 150 GB HDD |
| 1440p (QHD/2K) - Competitive Enthusiast (Targets 1440p, High settings, ~144 FPS) (High Preset, 1440p resolution, with DLSS/FSR Quality, targeting high refresh rates.) CPU: Top-tier gaming CPUs are recommended to avoid bottlenecks at 1440p high-refresh targets. CPU (Laptop): High-performance laptop CPUs are essential for a consistent 1440p experience. GPU: Modern enthusiast GPUs providing the VRAM and power needed for 1440p visual clarity. GPU (Laptop): A high-TGP RTX 4080 Laptop is the ideal target for 1440p high-fidelity, high-FPS gaming. RAM: 32GB is highly recommended for 1440p to handle the game and background communication apps. Storage: A fast NVMe SSD is critical for loading assets at 1440p. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i7-13700K or AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER (16GB) or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT (20GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-13700HX / AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX or newer. laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop (12GB). (Future-proof: RTX 5070 Laptop) layersRAM: 32 GB saveStorage (Tier): 100 GB NVMe SSD | — |
| 1440p (QHD/2K) - High (1440p ~60 FPS, High/Ultra Preset with DLSS/Optimized Settings) (High/Ultra Preset (Optimized, DLSS Quality/Balanced potentially needed)) CPU: Desktop CPU for 1440p at 60 FPS. CPU (Laptop): Estimated high-end laptop CPUs. GPU: Desktop GPU for 1440p at 60 FPS. GPU (Laptop): Estimated high-performance laptop GPUs. 8GB+ VRAM essential, 10GB+ preferable. RAM: 16GB RAM required, 32GB recommended for smoother experience. Storage: NVMe SSD strongly recommended. | |
| — | memoryCPU: Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X/5600X developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super (8GB) / RTX 3070 (8GB) or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (8GB) / RX 6700 XT (12GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i7-10875H / AMD Ryzen 7 5800H or better. **Modern Intel Core i7/i9 HX-series / AMD Ryzen 7/9 HS/HX-series recommended.** laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Mobile (8GB, High TGP) / RTX 4070 Mobile (8GB, High TGP) or AMD Radeon RX 6800M. **An RTX 3080 Mobile or RTX 4080 Mobile provides a more consistent 1440p High/Ultra experience.** layersRAM: 16 GB saveStorage (Tier): 150 GB NVMe SSD |
| 2160p (UHD/4K) - 4K Ultra (Targets 4K, Ultra settings, ~60-120 FPS) (Ultra Preset, 2160p (4K) resolution, with DLSS/FSR Performance/Balanced.) CPU: Flagship CPUs are required to push the highest possible framerates at 4K. CPU (Laptop): The absolute highest-end mobile processors are needed to pair with flagship laptop GPUs. GPU: Only flagship GPUs can maintain high framerates at 4K Ultra, relying heavily on DLSS 3.5 Frame Generation. GPU (Laptop): The flagship laptop GPU is mandatory for a playable 4K experience at these settings. RAM: 32GB of fast RAM is essential for 4K to handle the massive texture overhead. Storage: A high-speed Gen 4 or Gen 5 NVMe SSD is highly recommended for the best 4K experience. | |
memoryCPU: Intel Core i9-14900K or AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 (24GB) or AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX (24GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i9-14900HX / AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX3D or newer. laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop (16GB). (Future-proof: RTX 5080/5090 Laptop) layersRAM: 32 GB saveStorage (Tier): 100 GB NVMe SSD | — |
| 2160p (UHD/4K) - Ultra (2160p/4K ~30-60 FPS, Medium/High Preset with DLSS Performance/Balanced) (Medium/High Preset, DLSS Performance/Balanced (Native 4K Ultra 60FPS is extremely demanding)) CPU: Desktop CPU recommendation for 4K. CPU (Laptop): Top-tier laptop CPUs required. GPU: Desktop GPU recommendation for a playable 4K experience, often requiring DLSS. GPU (Laptop): Flagship laptop GPUs essential. 12GB+ VRAM absolutely critical. RAM: 32GB RAM very strongly recommended for 4K. Storage: NVMe SSD required. | |
| — | memoryCPU: Intel Core i9-9900K or AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D / Ryzen 9 5900X developer_boardGPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10GB) / RTX 4070 Ti (12GB) or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (16GB) / RX 7900 XT (20GB) laptop_macCPU (L): Intel Core i9-11980HK / AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX or better. **Flagship Intel Core i9 HX / AMD Ryzen 9 HX series (e.g., 13980HX, 7945HX) required.** laptop_windowsGPU (L): NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile (16GB, Max TGP) / RTX 4080 Mobile (12GB, Max TGP) / RTX 4090 Mobile (16GB, Max TGP). **Even the RTX 4090 Mobile will heavily rely on DLSS (Performance/Ultra Performance) for 4K High/Ultra at 60FPS. A hypothetical next-gen flagship (RTX 50-series) would aim for better native 4K capabilities.** layersRAM: 16 GB saveStorage (Tier): 150 GB NVMe SSD |
| save Overall Storage | |
Spec: 100 GB available space (SSD Required) Note: An SSD is a mandatory requirement for all tiers. This is critical for fast map loading and streaming the game's high-fidelity, high-contrast assets without traversal stutter. Type: SSD | Spec: 150 GB available space (SSD Strongly Recommended). Note: An NVMe SSD is highly recommended for the best experience due to the vast world and high-resolution assets. Type: SSD |
| desktop_windows Operating System | |
Spec: Windows 10 / Windows 11 (64-bit Required) Explanation: A 64-bit version of Windows 10 is the baseline. Windows 11 is recommended for better thread scheduling and to utilize features like DirectStorage for faster map loading. | Spec: Windows 7 (SP1), Windows 10 (Version 1803 or newer) Explanation: 64-bit Windows 7 or newer. Windows 10/11 64-bit recommended for best compatibility and performance. |
| gamepad DirectX Version | |
| Spec: DirectX 12 Explanation: The official requirement is expected to be DirectX 12. Modern engine features for lighting and geometry virtualization will rely on the DX12 API. | Spec: DirectX 12 (Vulkan also supported and often preferred for performance on AMD GPUs) Explanation: DirectX 12 or Vulkan API. Players can often choose between them. |
| info_outline Other Game Notes | |
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| build Optimization Details | |
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| laptop Laptop Considerations | |
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info_outline Feature details based on available data. System requirements and performance estimates may vary.
laptop_chromebook Laptop Recommendations
Common Recommendations (Handles All Compared Games)
For Marathon Specifically
For Red Dead Redemption 2 Specifically
info_outline Laptop recommendations are estimates based on available component benchmarks and game requirements. Actual performance may vary depending on settings, drivers, cooling, power limits, etc. Prices and availability subject to change. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.