Marathon
News, coverage and analysis tracking Marathon across the outlets.- Before you place all the blame on Sony, former Destiny 2 CM says Bungie was 'very close to shutting its doors'…Former Destiny 2 community manager Liana Ruppert stated that Bungie was on the verge of shutting down before its acquisition by Sony. Ruppert clarified that the studio's financial struggles predated the deal, making the acquisition an emergency measure. Despite Sony's $3.6 billion investment, the studio has faced challenges, including a significant impairment loss related to Destiny 2 and Marathon.
- 'The Only Way to Keep Bungie Alive Is to Support Marathon,' Ex-Destiny Community Manager SaysA former Bungie community manager believes that supporting the upcoming game Marathon is crucial for the studio's survival, suggesting that issues within the company predate Marathon's development and Sony's acquisition. The manager criticized players for comparing Destiny 2's player count to Marathon's early reception.
- Destiny 2 and Bungie as a whole were "very close" to closing before Sony buyout, according to ex-community lead: "It was an emergency acquisition"Former Bungie community lead Liana Ruppert stated that the company was on the verge of shutting down before Sony's $3.6 billion acquisition in 2022. Ruppert described the buyout as an 'emergency acquisition' that saved both Destiny 2 and Bungie itself. Despite initial independence, Sony recently reported a $765 million impairment loss on the studio.
- Fascinating PS5 Sales Estimates Peg Ghost of Yotei as a TriumphAlinea Analytics has provided sales estimates for first-party PlayStation 5 games, indicating Ghost of Yotei as a significant success with 4.8 million units sold. Other titles like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and MLB The Show 26 also performed well, though Saros and Marathon appear to be underperforming significantly. The data suggests a strong market for Sony's cinematic single-player titles.
- Destiny 2's final update causes the biggest jump in players in nearly two years, as Marathon numbers coincidentally drop to near their lowestDestiny 2's final update, Monument of Triumph, has caused a significant surge in player numbers, reaching nearly 168,000 concurrent players on Steam, the highest in almost two years. This coincides with a drop in players for Bungie's new game, Marathon, which has seen its concurrent player count fall to near its lowest point. The Monument of Triumph update is described as gigantic, bringing back vaulted content and reversing recent unpopular decisions.
- Destiny 3 Isn't in Development, But It May Have Been the Most Talked About Game of the Last WeekDespite Destiny 3 not being in development, it was the most talked-about game due to Destiny 2 reaching content completeness and fans petitioning Sony for a sequel. Bungie is now focusing on the poorly performing Marathon, while Sony faces financial write-offs and community frustration over its live service strategy.
- Destiny 2's final update sees the MMO hit its highest Steam playercount in two yearsDestiny 2's final update, Monument of Triumph, has led to a significant surge in player numbers, reaching its highest concurrent player count on Steam in two years. The update, released on June 9, saw the MMO peak at over 167,000 players, a substantial increase from its pre-update average. This surge marks a notable resurgence for the game as Bungie concludes its support.
- Destiny 2's concurrent Steam players nearly doubles Marathon's peak on Monument of Triumph launchDestiny 2 saw its concurrent player count on Steam nearly double that of Marathon's peak following the launch of its final 'Monument of Triumph' content update. Over 150,000 players logged in to experience the update.
- Destiny 2 Hits Highest Player Count in Two Years Following Final Update's Release, Shatters Marathon's All-Time PeakDestiny 2 has reached its highest player count in two years following the release of its final update. This surge also saw the game shatter the all-time peak player count for Marathon.
- Destiny 2 Players Return In Huge Numbers For The Game’s Final Live-Service UpdateDestiny 2 has seen a significant surge in player numbers for its final live-service update, Monument of Triumph, which celebrates the game's history. As developer Bungie shifts its focus to the upcoming title Marathon, players are showing renewed engagement with the Destiny franchise.
- Destiny 2 hasn't had this many players in years: fans flood the servers as final update sends Bungie's MMO off…Destiny 2 has seen a massive surge in player numbers following the release of the Monument of Triumph update, marking the end of active development for Bungie's MMO. Player counts on Steam have reached levels not seen since the Final Shape expansion, despite the game's previously low average player base. While the servers will remain online, no further updates are planned, leading to speculation and a fan petition for a Destiny 3.
- Destiny 2 Player Count Soars Above Marathon’s Highest Ever As Guardians Log On For Final UpdateDestiny 2 has seen a significant surge in player count on Steam, exceeding 160,000 concurrent players with the release of its final content update, "The Monument of Triumph." This peak player count is notably higher than the highest recorded for Bungie's upcoming game, Marathon. Despite some technical issues like server queues and error codes, the strong player engagement indicates continued interest in the game and has fueled discussions about a potential Destiny 3.
- Destiny 2's final update – live coverage of the end of an eraBungie has released the final update, Monument of Triumph, for Destiny 2 after nine years of service. The update brings new features, weapons, and quality-of-life improvements, marking the end of the game's active development. While Destiny 2 will remain playable, there is no immediate announcement for a Destiny 3, with Bungie focusing on incubating new projects.
- Gears of War: E-Day's PS5 port is reportedly mostly complete as Xbox only recently decided to U-turn on its console…A report suggests that a PlayStation 5 port of Gears of War: E-Day is nearly complete, despite Xbox recently deciding to keep the game as an Xbox exclusive. This change in strategy reportedly occurred after Phil Spencer's retirement, with current leadership re-evaluating which single-player games will be ported to other platforms on a case-by-case basis.
- Summer Game Fest no-shows: The big games that were absent from 2026's showcasesSeveral highly anticipated games were notably absent from the Summer Game Fest showcases, leaving fans speculating about their development status. Titles like Arkane's Blade, the Witcher 3 DLC, Injustice 3, and the Divinity sequel were among the expected reveals that did not materialize. The article highlights the absence of these games and discusses potential reasons or future reveal opportunities.
- PS5 Players Get Major 2026 Game for Free After PS Store BlunderSony is giving away free copies of the upcoming game Marathon to PlayStation 5 players due to a PlayStation Store error. A promotion for the Deluxe Edition bundle mistakenly included the base game, leading many users who participated in a free play week to receive the full title. Bungie and Sony have stated they will honor these purchases despite the blunder.
- Xbox boss explains logic behind PS5 exclusivity and it makes no sense at allXbox boss Matt Booty attempted to clarify Microsoft's shifting strategy on game exclusivity, stating that major multiplayer and live service titles will remain multiplatform. However, the decision to make Gears Of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution Xbox console exclusives, while other titles like Senua and State Of Decay 3 will be multiplatform, has caused confusion. This 'case by case' approach, similar to past vague statements, raises questions about Xbox's long-term vision for its exclusive content.
- Respawn Monday #2: Marathon Season 2, Game Shows, and Darktide | Too Much Gaming — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & GuidesThe author discusses their experience with Marathon Season 2, noting both enjoyable gameplay and significant launch issues. The article also recaps the recent gaming showcases, including State of Play, Xbox Games Showcase, and Summer Game Fest, highlighting key game announcements and Xbox's renewed focus on console exclusivity for titles like Gears of War: E-Day.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 DMZ devs have been "paying attention" to other extraction shooters like Arc Raiders, but think they've got them beat on "weapon feel"Infinity Ward is closely monitoring the extraction shooter genre, including titles like Arc Raiders and Marathon, for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4's DMZ mode. Multiplayer creative director Joe Cecot believes their game will excel with superior weapon feel and movement. The updated DMZ mode will feature persistent inventory, base upgrades, and a rich sandbox environment with mini-events.
- Marathon May Never Be Popular, And That’s Why It’s So GoodMarathon, a new live-service game from Bungie, is intentionally designed to be niche and challenging, unlike more mainstream titles such as Destiny 2. Its friction-forward gameplay, harsh mechanics, and emphasis on player learning over permanent progression set it apart. Despite initial skepticism and comparisons to other live-service failures, Marathon's unique approach offers a distinct and thrilling experience for its target audience.