Bungie
Bungie business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
'Things Are Looking Lukewarm Right Now' — Marathon Has Reportedly Sold Just 1.2 Million So Far, With Steam Making Up 70% of the Player Base
Marathon has reportedly sold only 1.2 million units since its release, with PC and Steam accounting for 70% of its player base. Analyst reports suggest the game has not met the sales expectations set by Sony and Bungie.
Bungie is shifting Marathon's endgame content around, so you won't have to pick between ranked or Cryo Archive this weekend
Bungie is adjusting the schedule for Marathon's timed game modes, Cryo Archive and Ranked, to prevent overlap and allow players to focus on one at a time. Cryo Archive will now run from Thursday to Sunday, with Ranked available from Sunday to Thursday. This change aims to address player feedback regarding scheduling conflicts and loot management.
Games Inbox: Is the Nintendo Switch 2 becoming a failure?
Readers express concerns about the Nintendo Switch 2's perceived lack of marketing, high price point, and unclear game lineup, suggesting these factors are contributing to potential sales issues. The discussion also touches on broader industry concerns like the impact of Fortnite's potential decline, Epic Games' layoffs, and the economic climate affecting expensive console purchases.
Marathon Sales Look Soft So Far – PC By Far The Favoured Platform
Marathon has sold approximately 1.2 million copies, generating around $48 million in revenue, with PC being the dominant platform for sales. Despite initial sales being softer than anticipated by Sony and Bungie, the game has received positive reviews. However, current player trends suggest a potential challenge for its long-term viability as a live service title.
IOI Partners no longer wants anything to do with MindsEye
Sony Interactive Entertainment is reportedly undergoing significant layoffs and studio closures, marking the second such event in a month. This follows the cancellation of projects at studios like Deviation Games and Haven Studios, with concerns also raised about Bungie's future and the company's overall strategy for live service games.
Sony is reportedly shutting down Dark Outlaw Games, run by former Call of Duty director
Sony is reportedly shutting down Dark Outlaw Games, a studio led by former Call of Duty director Jason Blundell. This closure is part of broader staff cuts at PlayStation focused on mobile development, signaling a retreat from live-service multiplayer games. Several other studios and projects have also been affected or canceled recently.
Marathon review: 77 hours later
Marathon is a brilliant extraction shooter that distills the genre's best elements while offering a glimpse into its future. Despite a brutal difficulty curve and a sometimes-disappointing battle pass, the game excels with its spectacular gunplay, meticulously designed maps, and deep lore. Bungie's signature style is evident in its world-building and satisfying combat mechanics, making it a standout title in the genre.
Sony closes Dark Outlaw Games, just a year after its founding
Sony is shutting down Dark Outlaw Games, a studio founded by Jason Blundell, just one year after its establishment. This marks the second time Sony has ended a partnership with a Blundell-formed company, following Deviation Games. The closure of Dark Outlaw Games is part of broader layoffs across PlayStation's US and UK businesses and a strategic shift away from the mobile gaming market.
'We're in It for the Long Haul': Bungie Rejects Rumours It Could Move on from Marathon After Unremarkable PS5 Sales
Bungie has stated it is committed to the long-term support and improvement of its extraction shooter Marathon, despite initial sales figures being lower than expected, with only 1.2 million units sold and a small percentage on PlayStation 5. While the game has garnered positive reviews and a dedicated player base, its commercial performance is considered unremarkable for a studio of Bungie's caliber and budget, raising questions about its sustainability amidst industry trends like recent layoffs at Epic Games.
PS5 Players Seemingly Skip Marathon as Sales Estimates Look Very Weak
Sales estimates for Bungie's extraction shooter Marathon suggest weak performance, with only 1.2 million copies sold since its March 5th launch, primarily on PC. PlayStation 5 sales are particularly low, accounting for only 19% of purchases. Despite positive reviews and a recent endgame raid, player numbers have declined since launch, raising concerns about the game's long-term viability for Sony.
Marathon sold just 1.2 million copies with nearly 70% on Steam, analyst estimates: "It hasn't exactly made the…
Analyst Rhyss Elliott estimates Bungie's Marathon has sold 1.2 million copies, with most sales on Steam, falling short of Sony and Bungie's expectations. Despite lower sales figures compared to Arc Raiders, Marathon shows strong player engagement with high average playtime on PC, suggesting that players who overcome the initial UI challenges enjoy the game's core mechanics.
Guardians Compete for Medallions and Valor in Annual Guardian Games Event
Destiny 2 has launched its annual Guardian Games in-game event, which runs from March 24 to April 14, allowing players to compete for class supremacy. This year's event features a remixed Rushdown mode, daily boss rotations, and new weapons. A crossover with Magic: The Gathering introduces themed armor ornaments and cosmetics. Additionally, the Destiny 2 Shadow and Order update has been delayed to June 9, 2026.
Someone already beat Marathon's pinnacle three-player Compiler boss solo, just to rub salt in the wound of everyone…
A player known as TheSnazzzyRock has achieved the world's first solo completion of the Compiler boss in Marathon's Cryo Archive map, completing the challenging feat in just eight attempts. This accomplishment comes shortly after the game's release and highlights the player's expertise in tackling difficult live service game challenges. Bungie is also implementing a fix to ensure subroutine spawns are guaranteed.
Marathon is the first FPS to challenge Escape from Tarkov on its own turf, and after 80 hours I'm glad Bungie…
Bungie's Marathon is a stylish take on the extraction shooter genre, offering a faster pace and more accessible mechanics than titles like Escape from Tarkov. After 80 hours, the reviewer finds it to be a compelling experience that successfully blends high-stakes PvP with engaging lore and streamlined systems, making it a favorite multiplayer shooter.
Marathon Cryo Archive tips and basics explained
This guide provides tips and explains the basics of Marathon's Cryo Archive, the game's endgame map. It details the 30-minute time limit, the Security Clearance Level system which can go up to Level 5, and the importance of collecting Security Tags and hacking Security Monitors to progress. The guide also covers essential survival tips, such as managing ammo and healing, and advises against rushing into the central Control area.
"Most North Americans and Europeans don't understand the frustrating feeling of waiting 10 minutes to find a match" - Bungie steps into help Marathon players from "isolated geographical regions"
Bungie has implemented a matchmaking update for Marathon to address long queue times experienced by players in "isolated geographical regions" outside of North America and Europe. The change aims to balance faster matchmaking with low-latency gameplay, and initial reports indicate improved connection times for affected players. Additionally, a fix is being implemented for loot vaults on the Cryo Archive map.
Marathon's Cryo Archive Locks Out a Lot of Players, But Bungie Is Listening to Feedback
Bungie is actively collecting player feedback regarding the restrictive requirements for Marathon's new endgame mode, Cryo Archive. Game director Joe Ziegler acknowledged concerns about accessibility, including the need for a team of three, specific loadout costs, and weekend-only availability. The studio is discussing potential adjustments, such as solo play options and more flexible access, though solutions may take time.
Marathon Cinematic Trailer Showcases the Thief’s Crafty Skills
Bungie has released a new cinematic trailer for Marathon, highlighting the Thief Runner Shell's stealth and recon abilities. The trailer showcases how the Thief uses its companion drone for distractions and to set up sniper attacks. Marathon is available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
There is nothing like Marathon's Cryo Archive map
The Cryo Archive map in Bungie's Marathon offers a unique and complex PvPvE experience that sets it apart from other competitive shooter maps. This labyrinthine endgame zone features a "Security Clearance" mechanic that gates progression, requiring players to loot bots, hack terminals, or steal tags to unlock new areas. While intense PvP encounters occur in the central Control chamber, the map's massive scale and short sightlines often limit engagements to one team at a time, allowing for exploration and looting of valuable gear.
How to extract from Cryo Archive in Marathon
This guide explains how to successfully extract from the Cryo Archive in Marathon, a critical process for retaining gear and loot. Players must reach Security Clearance Level 3, find and use an Exfil Station to reveal a Secret Exfil beacon, and then reach it within a three-and-a-half-minute timer. Failure to meet these requirements may necessitate finding a hidden Final Exfil beacon.
