This was stated by game director Joe Ziegler. The developers explained that at launch, the project will exclusively support cooperative gameplay. This doesn't mean solo players won't be able to enter the map - they'll simply have to face coordinated groups. As Ziegler noted, since all game mechanics are designed for team play, adapting the balance, level design, and loot system for solo play would require significant development resources that the studio currently doesn't have available.

This decision has sparked a wave of discontent: even dedicated extraction shooter fans were counting on the ability to play solo. Considering existing criticisms of the visual style, gameplay pace, and monetization model, the absence of a solo mode could deal another blow to the project's reputation.

Theoretically, Bungie could add this mode in the future - when developers free up resources post-launch. The bigger questions are how much time this would require, whether the team could implement it without breaking the existing concept (and consequently abandoning solo play), and most importantly - what state Marathon will even be in by that point.

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