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For a practical starting point, use Marathon’s PC performance profile of 1920×1080, VSync off, the frame-rate cap disabled, and Medium graphics quality; calibrate HDR for your display and room; and keep controller aim settings at their defaults until a specific problem calls for a small adjustment. Bungie presents these as starting recommendations—not guaranteed results for every PC, screen, or player. Console players can use the display and controller guidance here, but the PC graphics profile and PC troubleshooting steps do not apply to consoles.
Start with the settings that match your setup
There is no universal best profile. A PC’s performance depends on which part of the system is limiting it, while visibility depends on the display and ambient light. Controller comfort varies with the player, shell, and hardware. Use the recommendations below as a baseline, then change one thing at a time so you can tell whether it helped.
| Goal | Start here | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Higher PC frame rate | 1920×1080, VSync off, frame-rate cap disabled, Medium graphics quality | PC; Bungie describes this as a starting configuration targeting 120+ FPS, not a guaranteed frame rate |
| Clearer HDR image | Begin near the display’s peak HDR brightness; adjust exposure and shadow visibility for the room | HDR-capable PC or console display |
| More comfortable controller aim | Keep default aim settings initially; make small, targeted changes | Controller players |
| More accessible interface or controls | Review UI color modes, HUD opacity, subtitles, and input remapping | Options listed by PlayStation Support; available labels and options may vary by platform |
Best Marathon settings for PC performance
Apply Bungie’s high-frame-rate starting profile
Bungie recommends the following in-game settings as a balance for many mid- and high-spec CPUs and GPUs, with a stated target of 120+ FPS:
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- Resolution: 1920×1080.
- VSync: Off.
- Frame-rate cap: Disabled.
- Graphics quality: Medium.
Treat 120+ FPS as the aim of that recommended configuration, not a promise that the game will reach or hold that rate on your hardware. The official guidance does not provide controlled, hardware-by-hardware benchmark results or measured FPS gains for individual settings. If your PC does not hit the target, that alone does not mean one setting is wrong: hardware, scene complexity, and the balance between CPU and GPU work all matter.
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This profile is a starting point for PC, not a console preset. It is also not a requirement to sacrifice clarity if you prefer a different resolution or quality level. First establish how the game performs in your normal play conditions; then use the diagnosis below to decide whether a change is relevant.
Measure performance in the game you actually play
- Apply the starting profile and load into gameplay. Performance can vary with your system and the scene.
- Turn on the in-game counter through Settings > Gameplay > In-game FPS counter, or use the Steam overlay.
- Observe the counter during the same kind of gameplay where you notice a problem. A result in one scene does not establish performance in every scene.
Bungie describes Marathon as a multithreaded game and its first shipped DirectX 12 title. The CPU handles game simulation and prepares work for rendering; the GPU renders the image. The slowest part of that chain limits the frame. Dense locations such as Outpost and Cryo Archive can involve substantial work, and some tasks may still be constrained by single-thread performance. Consequently, total CPU utilization by itself does not tell you whether the CPU is limiting your frame rate. A CPU can be the constraint even when overall utilization does not appear to be maxed out, because not all game work scales evenly across its threads.
Use the reduced-rendering test only to diagnose a suspected CPU limit
- First note your normal FPS in a representative situation.
- Temporarily disable anti-aliasing and set render resolution to 25% to minimize GPU workload.
- Compare the result with your normal run in similar conditions.
- Restore your normal render resolution and anti-aliasing after the test.
If performance changes substantially when GPU workload is reduced, that is evidence the GPU workload matters in that situation. If it changes little, CPU work or another constraint may be more important. This is a troubleshooting clue, not a definitive component test: it does not identify a particular CPU or GPU fault. The very low render resolution also makes the image much worse, so it is not a play-quality or visibility recommendation.
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Keep the comparison as consistent as practical: use similar gameplay conditions and compare the counter before and during the temporary test. The purpose is to see whether reducing the amount of rendering work changes the observed result, not to choose the lowest-resolution image as a permanent setting. Because the test intentionally degrades image quality, restore both options before evaluating visibility or aim comfort.
Decide whether frame generation is appropriate
Update 1.1.0, dated June 2, 2026, added PC frame-generation support through DLSS (NVIDIA), FSR (AMD), and XeSS (Intel). Bungie recommends enabling frame generation only when the game is already rendering at 60 FPS or higher before frame generation. Below that, Bungie warns of possible input-latency and image-quality effects. Check the current in-game options and patch notes because this advice is version-sensitive. The update also described CPU performance improvements as the first of more planned updates; it did not establish a specific FPS increase for a given system.
That 60 FPS threshold refers to the game’s rendering rate before frame generation, not a figure to infer from an enabled frame-generation counter. If the underlying rate is below the recommended threshold, adding generated frames is not Bungie’s suggested fix for the problem. Measure the unassisted rate first, and weigh the possible image-quality and input-latency effects before enabling it.
Best Marathon settings for visibility
Calibrate HDR for your display, not a copied number
When HDR is enabled on an HDR-capable PC or console display, Marathon presents HDR controls during first-launch calibration. Bungie identifies two settings:
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- Aim and move with precision by swapping in fresh stick modules* so you’re always playing with equipment that’s in great shape. Plus, three types of changeable stick caps help you stay comfortable in-game without sacrificing grip or stability.
- Mappable back buttons The DualSense Edge wireless controller’s two swappable sets of back buttons can be configured to any other button input, so you’ve always got game-changing actions and essential controls at your fingertips.
- Adjustable trigger lengths Manually set the travel distance of your left and right triggers for an optimal experience with whatever you’re playing. Fast-paced FPS? Set a shorter travel distance to shoot faster on the field. Competitive racer? Set a longer travel distance for precise throttle control on the track.
- Remappable buttons Remap or even deactivate specific button inputs, so you can create a completely personalized control setup that’s ideal for the game at hand.
- Quick-swap control profiles Once you’ve found your ideal control settings, you can save them to unique profiles and swap between them on-the-fly, so your favourite configurations are always ready when you are.
| Control | What it changes | Range or starting point |
|---|---|---|
| Midpoint | Overall exposure | Range 0–100; default 50 |
| Peak Brightness | Brightness in nits | Listed minimum 500 nits; begin near the display’s peak HDR brightness and adjust to preference |
Those figures describe the game’s controls, not a competitive-visibility optimum. Adjust Midpoint while looking at the image on your own screen, and use Peak Brightness with your display’s capabilities in mind. A setting that makes highlights vivid can still leave important dark areas hard to read.
Midpoint and Peak Brightness serve different purposes: one controls overall exposure and the other sets brightness in nits. Changing one is not a substitute for checking the other. The default Midpoint of 50 is a useful reference point, but the listed range of 0–100 does not imply that the middle value suits every display. Likewise, the listed 500-nit minimum is an interface limit, not a claim that every screen can reproduce that output.
Make shadow detail readable in your room
Ambient light changes apparent contrast. If shadows are difficult to read, try raising shadow levels on the in-game calibration screen. Make the adjustment in the lighting conditions where you normally play: a value that looks clear in a dark room may look different with daylight or lamps on. The goal is usable detail without making the whole image uncomfortably bright, not a particular universal number.
When comparing settings, look at the image from your usual seat and with your ordinary room lighting. If the problem is limited to dark areas, shadow calibration is the relevant place to start; if the entire image feels too dim or washed out, consider overall exposure instead. Make one adjustment, inspect the result, and avoid treating a screenshot or another player’s numeric value as a reliable match for your panel.
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Check the display’s HDR processing
Bungie’s display guidance is a set of options to experiment with, not a universal menu recipe. TV manufacturers use different names and processing behavior, so look for equivalent controls on your model rather than assuming every set has the same labels.
- If available, enable the TV’s Game Mode.
- Try display tonemapping that changes the image least; Bungie suggests turning Dynamic Tonemapping or Contrast Enhancer off.
- Bungie suggests considering HGiG Off or Static. Treat those as display-dependent options to test, not fixed recommendations for every screen.
- If colors shift significantly with HDR enabled, check whether the display’s color-space setting improves the picture. Bungie does not identify one setting that works across brands.
A 120 Hz or variable-refresh-rate display may improve the experience when both the system and display support the feature. Confirm that the particular display port supports it and use a compatible cable. These capabilities do not replace calibration, and their availability depends on your equipment.
Display refresh capability and game frame rate are related considerations, but neither guarantees the other: a 120 Hz display does not make every PC render 120 FPS, and support for variable refresh rate depends on the system, display, port, and cable. If you are troubleshooting a feature that is not available, check those connection details before changing image calibration settings.
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- Aim and move with precision by swapping in fresh stick modules* so you’re always playing with equipment that’s in great shape. Plus, three types of changeable stick caps help you stay comfortable in-game without sacrificing grip or stability.
- Mappable back buttons The DualSense Edge wireless controller’s two swappable sets of back buttons can be configured to any other button input, so you’ve always got game-changing actions and essential controls at your fingertips.
- Adjustable trigger lengths Manually set the travel distance of your left and right triggers for an optimal experience with whatever you’re playing. Fast-paced FPS? Set a shorter travel distance to shoot faster on the field. Competitive racer? Set a longer travel distance for precise throttle control on the track.
- Remappable buttons Remap or even deactivate specific button inputs, so you can create a completely personalized control setup that’s ideal for the game at hand.
- Quick-swap control profiles Once you’ve found your ideal control settings, you can save them to unique profiles and swap between them on-the-fly, so your favourite configurations are always ready when you are.
Keep resolution and render scaling distinct
The 25% render-resolution setting belongs to Bungie’s temporary PC troubleshooting test, not its visibility advice. Do not leave it low as a way to make the game easier to see. For normal play, use the recommended PC profile as a starting point and judge image clarity on your display. The guidance here does not establish a universal desktop-resolution change or a one-size-fits-all render-scaling value.
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Best Marathon controller aim settings
Begin with defaults, then solve one problem at a time
The developer recommendations describe Marathon’s defaults as a strong baseline and advise most players to keep them initially. The PlayStation Blog article carrying those recommendations says they come from the Marathon dev team; it is dated April 28, 2026. The team’s advice is: “There is no single perfect sensitivity setting for everyone.”
If aiming feels wrong, identify the specific issue before changing a value. For example, change sensitivity cautiously if turning feels too slow or too twitchy. Higher sensitivity can make close-range turns quicker, but reduce it if your aim becomes difficult to control. Avoid changing multiple aim settings together: otherwise it becomes harder to identify which adjustment helped.
The game includes aim curves and sensitivity settings. Classic is described as the standard curve used in Bungie action games, but that description does not make it the best curve for every player. Try a different option only when you have a reason, then spend time with it before making another change. If the current setting already feels controlled and comfortable, there is no need to change it simply because a different curve or sensitivity value is available.
DualSense Edge options are hardware-specific
The following recommendations apply to DualSense Edge profile controls; they are not universal in-game settings and are not available on every controller. They are optional hardware adjustments, not prerequisites for using the game’s default aim setup.
| Control | Starting option | Why try it |
|---|---|---|
| R2 trigger stop | Medium stop; short stop is a more responsive alternative | Medium is suggested for repeated firing, particularly with semi-automatic weapons |
| L2 trigger input range | Set the range from 0 to 70 | Makes ADS input engage sooner |
| Right-stick curve | Try Precise | A profile option to test if it suits your aiming control |
| Left-stick curve | Try Quick | A profile option to test for movement |
| Deadzones | Lower them carefully, only if the controller feels stable | Do not reduce them past the point where the stick behaves reliably |
These Edge options are best treated as a set of experiments, not a bundle that must be enabled together. A shorter trigger stop may feel more responsive, while the recommended medium stop is aimed at repeated firing; choose based on the action and your comfort. Lowering a deadzone is worth trying only when the stick remains stable, since responsiveness is not useful if the controller no longer behaves reliably.
Use rear buttons to reduce hand movement
Rear-button mappings are personal starting layouts, not a best-in-slot setup. The dev recommendations suggest using them for consumable and equipment radials so you can access those actions without leaving the sticks. Example shell-specific mappings include:
- Destroyer: jump or sprint.
- Assassin: crouch.
- Recon: push-to-talk and ping.
- Vandal: crouch.
- Thief: grapple.
- Triage: consumables and ping.
Choose actions that fit your shell, hand comfort, and habits. DualSense Edge can store up to three custom profile shortcuts, which can be useful if you want separate layouts rather than one mapping for every situation. A player who does not use a profile-capable controller can still begin with the default controls and review the game’s remapping options; the named rear-button examples are not a requirement for good aim.
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Update 1.1.0 added controller cursor-friction settings. Those settings affect cursor behavior; they are separate from in-combat stick sensitivity and aim curves. If a menu cursor feels wrong, investigate cursor friction rather than changing combat aiming settings to compensate.
Accessibility and interface readability
PlayStation Support lists Marathon features that may help with readability or control comfort. Review the options available on your platform and confirm their current labels in game:
- UI color modes.
- HUD opacity.
- Subtitles for voice-over.
- Ping and text chat options.
- Input remapping.
Use these alongside display calibration: a readable HUD or suitable color mode addresses a different problem from HDR exposure or shadow detail. If the image is visible but the interface is hard to distinguish, a UI color mode or HUD-opacity adjustment may be more relevant than raising overall brightness. If an action is uncomfortable to reach, input remapping addresses a different issue than changing stick sensitivity.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common setup questions
Should I use the same settings on PC and console?
No single profile applies to both. Bungie’s 1920×1080, VSync-off, uncapped, Medium-quality recommendation and its 25% render-resolution diagnostic are PC guidance. HDR calibration, display Game Mode suggestions, room-light considerations, and controller advice are relevant across the supported setup types described here. On console, start with the display and controller recommendations rather than trying to apply PC graphics controls that may not be available.
Should I raise brightness to see enemies in shadows?
Do not assume that raising every brightness control is the answer. Bungie recommends trying the in-game shadow-level calibration when shadows are unreadable, while Midpoint controls overall exposure. Ambient light also affects perceived contrast. Adjust the control that matches the issue, in the room where you actually play, and keep the image comfortable to view.
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Will frame generation fix low FPS?
It is not Bungie’s recommended fix when the game is rendering below 60 FPS before frame generation. The June 2, 2026 Update 1.1.0 guidance recommends DLSS, FSR, or XeSS frame generation only from a pre-generation rate of at least 60 FPS, and warns of possible input-latency and image-quality effects below that level. Measure the base rate and consult current patch notes before relying on a version-specific option.
What should I change first if controller aim feels off?
Keep the defaults as your baseline and identify whether the problem is slow turning or twitchy aim. Adjust sensitivity carefully in response to that specific problem rather than changing sensitivity, curve, and deadzone together. Classic is the standard curve used in Bungie action games, but the developer recommendations do not call it the best curve for everyone.
Do I need a DualSense Edge for the recommended aim setup?
No. The Edge trigger stops, stick curves, adjustable trigger range, deadzones, and rear-button profile suggestions apply only to that controller’s hardware features. They are optional. The general recommendation is to begin with the game’s defaults and make small changes that suit your controller and comfort.
A practical order for tuning
- Set the baseline: use the PC performance profile if you play on PC; leave controller aim defaults in place initially.
- Check visibility: calibrate HDR if enabled, then inspect shadow detail in your normal room lighting.
- Measure before optimizing: enable an FPS counter and observe a representative gameplay situation.
- Diagnose rather than guess: use Bungie’s temporary reduced-rendering test if you need to check how much GPU workload affects performance.
- Change one relevant setting: adjust a display control for a display problem, an aim control for an aim problem, or a performance setting for a performance problem.
- Recheck after updates: patches can change available options or performance behavior, so check current patch notes before relying on version-specific guidance.
Bungie’s HDR guidance puts the trade-off plainly: “The best image is the one that allows you to enjoy the game the most.” A clear, comfortable setup is more useful than copying a number that was chosen for a different screen or room.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Marathon settings for PC performance?
Bungie’s starting profile is 1920×1080, VSync off, frame-rate cap disabled, and Medium graphics quality. Its guide describes this as a 120+ FPS-targeted starting point for many mid- and high-spec systems, not a guarantee. Measure your own performance with the in-game counter or Steam overlay.
What is a good HDR Midpoint and Peak Brightness setting?
Marathon’s Midpoint range is 0–100 with a default of 50; Peak Brightness has a listed minimum of 500 nits. Bungie recommends beginning near your display’s peak HDR brightness and adjusting to preference. Calibrate in your normal room lighting rather than copying a universal competitive value.
When should I enable frame generation in Marathon?
Bungie recommends PC frame generation through DLSS, FSR, or XeSS only when the game is already rendering at 60 FPS or higher. Below that, it warns of possible input-latency and image-quality effects. Check current patch notes because the feature guidance may change.
What controller sensitivity should I use?
Begin with the defaults, then make a small adjustment only for a specific issue. Increase sensitivity cautiously if close-range turns feel too slow; reduce it if aim feels twitchy. Bungie’s recommendations say there is no single perfect sensitivity for everyone.
Are the DualSense Edge recommendations required?
No. Trigger stops, custom stick curves, adjustable trigger range, deadzones, and rear-button profiles are optional DualSense Edge hardware features. They do not apply to every controller; standard defaults and available in-game remapping remain useful starting points.
The Bottom Line
For PC, start with Bungie’s 1080p, VSync-off, uncapped, Medium-quality profile and measure your own performance; use the 25% render-resolution test only temporarily to diagnose GPU workload. For visibility, calibrate HDR and shadows for your display and room. For controller aim, leave defaults in place until a specific issue calls for a small change. These are starting points, not universal guarantees.
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