Key Takeaways
Created with AI - we're still experimenting, so apologies if it misses the mark
- Marathon enjoyed a successful launch on Steam, reaching an impressive peak of over 88,000 concurrent players within the first 15 hours.
- The game has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from Steam users, with 91% giving it a thumbs up rating.
- Despite its initial success, Marathon currently isnt supported on the Steam Deck due to compatibility issues with its anti-cheat software, BattlEye. Some players have also reported clunky UI issues.
- Fueled by digital preorders, Marathon quickly made it into Steams top three moneymakers, outperforming ARC Raiders on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in terms of player count and revenue, although ARC Raiders had a higher peak concurrent player count at launch.
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Launch Day Success: Marathon Smashes Steam Debut Records with 88K Concurrent Players and Positive Reviews
Bungie’s new extraction shooter, Marathon, launched yesterday, March 5, 2026, and initial Steam data indicates strong early adoption. SteamDB data from the first 15 hours shows the game reached a peak of over 88,000 concurrent players. The game has also garnered nearly 6,000 player reviews on Valve’s platform, with an overwhelmingly positive reception: 91% of Steam users giving the game a “thumbs up” rating. Currently, Marathon is listed as “Not Supported” on the Steam Deck because its anti-cheat software, BattlEye, isn’t natively compatible with SteamOS. Some players have also reported that Marathon’s user interface feels clunky. Fueled by digital preorders, Marathon has made it into Steam’s top three moneymakers. Gaming publications are already comparing it to ARC Raiders, particularly its performance on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, where Marathon is reportedly outperforming its competitor. However, ARC Raiders achieved a higher peak concurrent player count at launch (264,000). While Marathon’s online player count dropped from an initial 140,000, it continues to generate substantial revenue. It remains to be seen how the player base will evolve over its first weekend. (Image credit: SteamDB)
In Case You Missed It
In a whirlwind of gaming news, Slay the Spire 2 has taken Steam by storm, according to Bruno Pferd’s March 7th piece “Slay the Spire 2 Reaches 430,000 Players on Steam, Overshadows Marathon’s Peak”. This indie card battler managed an incredible peak of over 430k simultaneous players within its first day, outpacing even AAA shooter Marathon and impressing gamers with its Early Access performance on Steam Deck and other portable PCs Slay the Spire 2 Reaches 430,000 Players on Steam, Overshadows Marathon’s Peak. Meanwhile, Jonathan Dubinski’s March 6th post “Year’s Jab? Slay the Spire 2 Outpaces Marathon, Mocks Bungie” delves into the excitement surrounding both games’ launches. Dubinski encourages fans to appreciate indie passion projects like Marathon amidst new gaming industry releases Year’s Jab? Slay the Spire 2 Outpaces Marathon, Mocks Bungie. And in other news, Sophie Laurent’s March 6th piece “Marathon Listed for PS4 and Xbox One” explores the possibility of Bungie expanding Marathon’s console availability to older generation consoles. The ESRB classification hints at potential future plans, leaving us eager for more details Marathon Listed for PS4 and Xbox One.
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Official Name | Classic Marathon 2 |
| Brief Summary | Marathon 2 takes place seventeen years after the events of the first game. Durandal, one of the three AIs from the colony ship UESC Marathon, sends the player and an army of ex-colonists to search the ruins of Lh'owon, the S'pht home-world. He does not mention what exactly he is looking for, although he does let slip that the Pfhor are planning to attack Earth and that being on Lh'owon may stall their advance.
From the team that brought you Aleph One, the classic sci-fi FPS Marathon 2: Durandal from Bungie on Mac revived for modern hardware by the fan community. Fresh from your triumph on the colony ship Marathon, you are seized by the rogue AI Durandal to do his bidding in a distant part of the galaxy. Within the ruins of an ancient civilization, you must seek the remnants of a lost clan and uncover their long-buried secrets. Battle opponents ancient and terrible, with sophisticated weapons and devious strategies, all the while struggling to escape the alien nightmare… This classic 1995 Bungie FPS is now maintained by the fan community. Experience authentic game play using the original data files, with achievements, optional widescreen HUD support, 3D filtering/perspective, positional audio, and 60+ fps interpolation, just in case the original is too authentic. |
| Platforms | Linux, iOS, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac |
| Released | December 15, 2011 |
| Genre | Shooter |
| Play Modes | Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative |
| Languages | Czech, English, Portuguese (Brazil) |
| Genre | Aleph One Developers |
| Genre | Aleph One Developers |