Marathon was released earlier this month. Unfortunately, the game did not attract a high player count. First-person shooters with a strong foundation usually attract high player numbers at launch.
The best examples of this are the Call of Duty, Battlefield, and Halo franchises. Extraction shooters are a tough genre to break into, though, and Arc Raiders has found quite a bit of success in it. That said, Marathon failed to achieve similar results despite also being a first-person extraction shooter.
There are several possible reasons for this. The genre itself is already very competitive and not particularly beginner-friendly, which makes it harder for new titles to gain traction. On top of that, players today are more cautious when it comes to live service games, especially if the gameplay loop is not immediately engaging.
Despite the unimpressive sales and low player count, Bungie does not intend to stop, as it has confirmed that it will support the game for a long time.
Bungie’s Taking the Slow and Steady Route on This One
Bungie has confirmed in an official blog for Marathon that it intends to support the game for the long term. In the future improvement section, the developer clearly mentions that they are committed to the long haul and plan to continue improving the experience over time.
This suggests that Bungie is treating Marathon as a long-term live service project rather than a short-term release.
While we are very proud of what we have accomplished with the overall look and feel of the game since Alpha, we are in it for the long haul with Marathon. We look forward to many years of steady improvements to every aspect of the game.
-Bungie
The sales figures haven’t been officially disclosed yet, but according to Alinea Analytics, the game has sold 1.2 million copies so far. The developer said they’re proud of what they have accomplished and sees a clear vision of supporting the game for a long time.
Other than that, the developers are also looking to add an in game frame counter. You can visit the FAQ section to learn more about what the developer is focusing on and what it recommends to players.
Check out our first impressions of the game if you still have doubts about picking it up!
If you are looking for more interesting reads, check the articles below: