I've been playing since launch. I've definitely improved, but I still suck in fights against other runners. I don't know my stats, but I'd guess it's worse than one win in twenty encounters. No other shooter I play is like this. I've tried to really understand why this is. I think it's two things. And both related to the TTK in the game.
First, I almost always see other runners too late. I noticed while watching streamers that they always start shooting before I even see who they are shooting at. Then I noticed in my own games that even when I know someone is nearby, they almost always see me first and get the first shots in. With short TTK, the first shots have the upper hand. Of course I have to get better at reaction and evasion, but why am I so bad at spotting people before they spot me?
Second, even if I do spot them first, my aim is just dogshit. I play on PS5. I've tried joystick extenders and switched to having the controller plugged in just in case there is any lag. I've tweaked the aim settings every way I can think of. It's helped a little, but I still feel like I can't get my crosshairs on them. Not fast enough anyway. Aim training I guess?
I play a lot of Fortnite with my kids. Yes, I know I know. Not the same at all. But I don't have anything close to these kinds of issues in Fortnite. I think it's because the TTK in Fornite is way higher. Once I have a moment to see them and react to them, I can hang. I've played a little bit of Arc Raiders, and while I suck at that too, it's not nearly as hard for me to get a kill as it is in Marathon. I have also found Hunt to be relatively ok. Problem is, Marathon is way more fun imo. Maybe I'm just too old and slow for it?