Marathon Sales Surpass 1.2 Million Globally, With PC Leading Across Platforms

Analyst estimates suggest that Bungie's extraction shooter, Marathon, has achieved significant global sales, surpassing 1.2 million units. A substantial majority of these sales, approximately 800,000, were on PC via Steam, greatly outperforming PlayStation 5 (around 217,000 sales) and Xbox Series X/S (approximately 133,000 sales). This distribution means nearly 70% of Marathon players are on PC, while PlayStation accounts for about 19%, and Xbox for the remaining 11%. The game has also generated an estimated $55 million in revenue, not including microtransactions.

This platform split is particularly notable given that Bungie is a first-party Sony developer. The strong performance on PC aligns with recent discussions regarding Sony's strategy for multiplayer titles, suggesting a clear appeal for their online-focused games within the PC market.

Initial player reception for Marathon appears to have presented some challenges. Unlike a competitor's successful "Server Slam" event that significantly boosted player growth, Marathon's similar event did not yield the same widespread long-term engagement. This indicates that while many players initially tried Marathon, a notable portion did not remain for the full release.

However, the game demonstrates strong retention among those who did stick with it. Marathon boasts an estimated 380,000 daily active users, indicating a dedicated player base. PC players, particularly on Steam, show remarkable engagement, with an average playtime of 27.8 hours, compared to 16.5 hours on PS5 and 17.3 hours on Xbox. This suggests the game possesses compelling features that keep its core audience invested.

Furthermore, there's interesting overlap within Marathon's player base. A significant percentage of Steam players also engage with other popular titles: approximately 78.2% have played Destiny 2, 62.7% have played Helldivers 2, 55.9% have tried Arc Raiders, and 52.3% have come from Halo Infinite.

Reports indicate that these external estimates closely align with Bungie's internal figures. Despite initial reception nuances, there are currently no plans to alter or scale back content development for Marathon. Work on future seasons is ongoing, and the game's ultimate trajectory will unfold over time. While Marathon may not yet be the massive hit some anticipated, its ability to maintain a dedicated player base offers a promising outlook. The hope remains that Sony will allow the game ample opportunity to grow, especially in an environment where the company has sometimes been perceived as quick to close studios.