Bungie's Marathon Launches but Struggles to Positive Reviews

Bungie's Marathon Launches but Struggles to Match ARC Raiders

After a lengthy delay last year, Bungie, the studio behind Destiny and Halo, has officially released its new extraction shooter, Marathon. The PvPvE title is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, but its Steam launch numbers have fallen short compared with ARC Raiders, one of its main competitors.

Following the success of The Finals, Embark Studios returned with ARC Raiders, which initially launched as a PvE game but later added PvP. The change proved successful, with the game peaking at over 481,000 concurrent Steam players, selling more than 12 mln copies, and winning Best Multiplayer at the 2025 Game Awards.

Marathon Launch Figures

Marathon debuted on March 5, reaching just over 86,000 concurrent players on Steam, far below ARC Raiders’ 264,000 at launch. Both games launched on a Thursday, and while Marathon’s numbers may rise over the weekend, it seems unlikely to surpass its competitor.

Possible Reasons for the Gap

Marathon may be performing better on consoles than on PC, while ARC Raiders dominates Steam. Reviews on Steam are mostly positive, with over 1,400 reviews giving the game a «very positive» rating. Players praised the aesthetic and gunplay, describing it as «fun» and «innovative,» though many noted it is less beginner-friendly than ARC Raiders.

Marathon’s steep learning curve and aggressive PvPvE design may have limited its initial playerbase. Unlike ARC Raiders, there are no friendly lobbies, making the game more intimidating for new players. Some also criticised the clunky user interface, though Bungie has promised post-launch updates to improve it.

While Marathon has received positive feedback, it faces a tough challenge competing with ARC Raiders’ strong Steam presence and PC-focused playerbase.

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