Marathon launched yesterday across multiple platforms, including Steam. While Bungie’s new shooter enjoyed a respectable debut, it didn’t quite manage to become the day’s most-played new title.
Unexpectedly, the top spot was claimed by Slay the Spire 2. Released in Early Access, the sequel immediately drew a massive crowd. Steam statistics show that Marathon peaked at approximately 88,000 concurrent players at launch, while Slay the Spire 2 surged past 277,000.
However, there is a significant caveat to these numbers. Mega Crit’s latest hit is currently a PC exclusive. In contrast, Marathon launched simultaneously on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, meaning Steam’s data only reflects a portion of its total audience.
The developers of Slay the Spire 2 commented on the situation with a touch of humor. Mega Crit congratulated Bungie on the release of Marathon, playfully describing their own title as a “small indie passion project” that players shouldn’t overlook.
Despite the player count comparisons, Bungie’s launch is far from a failure. Marathon has debuted to strong player feedback, maintaining an 84% positive review score on Steam.
While the “small indie project” did indeed surpass Marathon in concurrent Steam players, it doesn’t diminish the shooter’s successful debut. The real test for Bungie lies ahead: maintaining player interest after the initial launch window.