‘Marathon’ Earned Its Recent Review Scores, Which Shouldn’t Be Controversial

Forbes • March 31, 2026 • technology

Key Points:

Marathon, a hardcore extraction shooter, has received high review scores from major outlets like IGN, Gamespot, and PC Gamer, pushing its metascore into the low 80s, which aligns closely with positive user ratings on Steam and PlayStation.
The game is noted for its intense difficulty, complex maps, and tough AI, making it a challenging experience primarily suited for hardcore players, but this difficulty does not detract from its quality.
Despite critical acclaim and player appreciation, Marathon has underperformed financially, with sales around 1.2 million copies and a declining player base, which is insufficient to recoup its multi-year development costs.
Bungie and Sony are committed to supporting Marathon for the foreseeable future, emphasizing that poor sales do not equate to poor game quality, a situation common in the industry given high development budgets and sales expectations.
The article advises players to engage with Marathon based on their personal preference for hardcore gameplay and to disregard negative debates about its financial performance or accessibility.

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