Marathon Surpasses Arc Raiders in Launch Week Sales
Bungie's latest title, Marathon, has made a significant impact in its launch week, outselling the extraction shooter Arc Raiders. Despite a tumultuous development period marked by delays, art controversies, and studio layoffs, the game's free Server Slam playtest has drawn strong numbers across Steam and Twitch, suggesting it is far from a flop.
Strong Performance on Steam and Twitch
The Server Slam playtest, which ran from February 26 to March 2, was free for all players on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. This strategy appears to have paid off, as Marathon quickly climbed Steam's top sellers list. In the United States, it secured the third position, trailing only Resident Evil Requiem and Counter-Strike 2, and notably ahead of Arc Raiders. Over the past week, it jumped an impressive 58 places, indicating a surge in pre-orders.
In the United Kingdom, Marathon held a respectable seventh place on Steam's top sellers list. On Twitch, the game garnered over 33,000 viewers, surpassing competitors like Arc Raiders (26.4K), Fortnite (19.7K), and Minecraft (24.4K). This places it just below major titles such as Overwatch, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, and Valorant in viewership rankings.
Comparison with Arc Raiders
As both games are extraction shooters, Marathon's success is inevitably measured against Arc Raiders. According to SteamDB, Marathon's concurrent peak player count reached 143,621, which is lower than Arc Raiders' peak of 481,966 players. However, it is crucial to note that Marathon's Server Slam was free, while Arc Raiders, priced at £32.99, achieved its highest player peak in January, several months after its October launch.
When comparing 24-hour peak numbers, Arc Raiders remains higher at 183,197 players, compared to Marathon's 143,621. Despite this, Marathon's early momentum and strong sales position it as a contender in the live service gaming market.
Developer Response and Future Prospects
Bungie has been proactive in addressing player feedback during the Server Slam. Shortly after the test launched, the developer identified and committed to fixing issues such as a confusing user interface, laggy mouse input, and performance problems. In a statement on X, Bungie wrote, 'Thanks to all of your feedback, we've got crucial intel that will help us make updates during the Slam and tie up any loose ends as we continue towards March 5.'
The success of live service games often hinges on their ability to retain players beyond the initial launch period. While Marathon shows promising early signs, its long-term trajectory remains uncertain. However, with Bungie's responsive approach and the game's strong debut, there is potential for it to soar in popularity upon its full release on March 5, priced at £34.99.
As the gaming community watches closely, Marathon's performance in the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether it can sustain its momentum and compete effectively in the crowded extraction shooter genre.
