Marathon Hasn't Sold Well, but the People Who Are Playing It Absolutely Love It
IGN • • technology
Key Points:
- Marathon, Bungie's ultra hardcore extraction shooter, has sold approximately 1.2 million copies across PC, PS5, and Xbox, generating around $55 million in gross revenue, with about 70% of sales on PC.
- Despite being a Sony-owned studio, Bungie is listed as the publisher, and less than 20% of sales came from PS5, highlighting Sony's reported shift away from PC for big single-player exclusives but maintaining multiplatform multiplayer launches.
- Bungie faces pressure after recent financial challenges, including a significant impairment charge linked to Destiny 2's underperformance, and leadership changes with CEO Pete Parsons' departure in August 2023.
- Marathon's steep learning curve and punishing gameplay may limit broader appeal, though it maintains strong engagement with 345,000 daily active users and high average playtime, especially on PC.
- Bungie may need to explore new strategies like easing onboarding, adding single-player or PvE content, or introducing traditional PvP modes to boost sales without alienating the current player base.
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