New updates for Marathon: WSTR weapon balance and free Cryo Archive kits

Bungie's Marathon continues to evolve with regular updates that bring both gameplay tweaks and new content. The latest reports from April and May 2026 reveal changes to popular weapons and the introduction of free weekly kits for players. This article covers those changes, as well as the ongoing issues with grenade use in the game.

Updates from 29 April 2026

On 29 April 2026, Bungie rolled out update 1.0.6.2 for Marathon, introducing several important changes. First, players will now receive one free Cryo Archive Sponsored Kit each week, a major step toward making the game more accessible for new players. This gives players the chance to enter the Cryo Archive zone without extra cost, where they can test their skills in a challenging environment.

There were also adjustments to the WSTR Combat Shotgun, one of the most popular weapons. Damage was increased from 78 to 85, while the critical multiplier was reduced from 1.15x to 1.05x. In addition, the shotgun now deals a 75% damage bonus against AI targets, making it clear that Bungie is focusing on optimizing the weapon for fighting non-player enemies.

Problems with grenade spamming

Despite the improvements, players are dealing with a growing issue: grenade spamming. This tactic, where players throw overwhelming numbers of grenades at once, has caused frustration within the community. Bungie has said it will make adjustments to grenade stack sizes to address the problem. Players have also suggested adding a limit to how many grenades a player can carry, which could be a possible solution.

Grenade spamming has become a recurring theme, with examples of players being overwhelmed by multiple grenades at once in instances. The issue is made worse by Marathon's fast time-to-kill, making it even harder for players to catch a break during firefights.

Future adjustments and the item economy

Bungie's changes are not limited to weapons and grenades. The item economy is also being reworked, with the new weekly Cryo Archive kits giving players more options. These kits require players to bring a loadout worth at least 5,000 credits to enter Cryo Archive — a harsh, competitive environment where everything is on the line. Players lose everything they bring if they fail to extract from the zone.

However, questions have also been raised about Cryo Archive's accessibility. Well-known streamer Shroud has noted that while the zone is impressive, it may be too complex for casual players, which could lead to lower engagement with this endgame content.

Marathon's development has been an expensive process, with rumors that total costs have climbed to more than $200 million. That points to the substantial level of investment Bungie has put into the project, highlighting the importance of the varied updates and community feedback. In the push for a solid gameplay experience, Bungie appears to be responding not only to player feedback, but also to the performance of specific weapons and mechanics across different play scenarios.

Over the coming weeks, the community will be expecting more updates from Bungie, especially ones focused on both the quality of the weapon system and play within the challenging Cryo Archive environment. Time will tell how effective these changes will be at connecting newcomers with the hardcore experience Marathon aims to deliver.