Marathon has been out for a little over six weeks, and already it’s on sale—at least on Xbox. The game, which has seen sluggish sales on this platform, is offering a 20 percent discount. With the price drop, some die-hard fans are wondering if bigger changes are needed to boost player numbers.
Currently, Marathon is priced at $32 on Xbox Series X/S, while it remains $40 on PlayStation 5 and Steam. Reports from Alinea Analytics estimate that the game sold only about 130,000 copies on Xbox in its first month. That’s a mere fraction compared to its total sales across other platforms. User reviews echo this trend, with just around 1,000 ratings on Xbox versus 11,000 on PSN and 35,000 on Steam.
Players expect Sony and Bungie to take action to increase the game’s player base. Steam charts alone don’t give a full picture, but the data shows a downward trend in concurrent players. Recently, Circana’s Mat Piscatella noted that Warframe has overtaken Marathon in weekly active users on Steam, raising concerns. This shift has resulted in longer matchmaking queues as players spread thin across new game modes.
So, what strategies should Bungie pursue to attract more players? Should they run a free weekend, hoping to convert new players? Or perhaps consider a free-to-play model to significantly boost their player base? Alternatively, they might play the long game, focusing on steady sales of the $40 game while catering to a loyal group of enthusiasts.
Some players have suggested making the popular “free kit” mode accessible to everyone. One Reddit user argued that offering this mode for free could entice players to explore what Marathon has to offer. Other responses echoed hope that this change could indeed attract new gamers.
It’s hard to pinpoint the best move. As a player myself, I want to see the game thrive. However, transitioning to free-to-play often comes with risks, especially for games designed to be premium products. Joseph Ziegler, the game director, previously expressed hope that the game’s features would persuade new players to join while committing to evolving the game with paid expansions to avoid raising the base price.
The current microtransactions in Marathon are minimal. Given the game’s stealth-based mechanics, introducing more extensive transactions could disrupt the core gameplay. Moreover, crossovers with other brands, common in many freemium games, might not fit the game’s unique vision and aesthetics.
It’s evident that Bungie needs to act as they prepare for the second season. Friends I play with remain enthusiastic but are slowly becoming fatigued with the existing content and progression systems. A free weekend could be a safe way for Bungie to attract new players while preserving the game’s value. Ultimately, it’s a balancing act that may determine the future of Marathon.
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