PS5 Marathon Sales Fall Short of Expectations
▼ Summary
– The extraction shooter Marathon has sold an estimated 1.2 million copies since its March 5th launch, generating roughly $55 million in revenue.
– The vast majority of sales were on Steam, with only about 19% (217,000 copies) estimated to be on PS5.
– Daily active users peaked at 478,000 at launch, dropped, then recovered to 380,000 after a new raid was released.
– Despite positive critical reception, the sales are considered unremarkable for a major studio title with a high budget and expectations.
– Forbes reports Bungie will continue with its current content plan, but the player engagement level raises questions about the project’s viability.
New sales data for Bungie’s highly anticipated extraction shooter Marathon suggests its commercial launch has been subdued. Analytics from Alinea, corroborated by a separate report from Forbes, indicate the title has sold approximately 1.2 million copies since its March 5 release, generating an estimated $55 million in revenue. The vast majority of those sales, however, have come through Steam, with the PlayStation 5 version accounting for a surprisingly low share.
Only about 217,000 units, or roughly 19% of total sales, are estimated to have been purchased on PS5. Player engagement figures show a similar pattern of tempered momentum. Daily active users peaked at 478,000 at launch before declining. A recent weekend uptick to 380,000 followed the introduction of the new Cryo Archive raid, but overall figures remain modest for a project of this stature.
These estimates, while not official, are reportedly considered in the right ballpark by sources within Bungie. For a studio of Bungie’s prestige and cost, launching its first major new IP in nearly a decade, the numbers are unremarkable. The budget for Marathon was undoubtedly immense, and parent company Sony likely harbored significant expectations for its performance.
The critical reception has been strong, with many reviews praising its deep masterwork of game design. The core community engaging with the title appears positive. The central question for Sony and Bungie is whether the current player base is large enough to sustain the live-service model and justify the enormous investment.
The situation presents a complex challenge for Sony. While not a disaster, these soft launch numbers for a flagship title require careful management. In a climate where even giants like Epic are making drastic cuts due to shifting player engagement, all eyes will be on how Bungie adjusts its long-term content plan to attract a broader audience. For now, the studio is reportedly proceeding with its existing roadmap, hoping strong word-of-mouth can fuel growth.
(Source: Push Square)
