Marathon Steam Charts: Extraction Shooter Beats Warframe

Just hours after Bungie officially opened pre-orders and announced a March 5, 2026, release date, Marathon rocketed up the charts. The long-awaited extraction shooter has already surged into the Top 10 best-selling games on Steam, currently sitting comfortably at the No. 5 spot on the revenue-based list in both the US and the UK. The rapid ascent is clearly visible on Steam’s real-time charts, where the game is now rubbing shoulders with industry giants. Marathon is sitting competitively alongside massive titles like Counter-Strike 2, Marvel Rivals, and the Steam Deck hardware itself. 

Notably, it has charted ahead of established live-service games such as Warframe and Where Winds Meet, while chasing the current number 1 best-seller, and arguably its stiffest competition in the genre, Arc Raiders. Globally, the game initially reached number 12 shortly after pre-orders went live, and analysts expect further gains as the marketing campaign ramps up.

A major driver of this instant success appears to be Bungie’s aggressive pricing strategy. At $39.99 for the Standard Edition, Marathon mirrors the successful model used by other hits like Helldivers 2 and Arc Raiders. This lower upfront cost makes it much easier for new players to give the game a try compared to the steep $70 price tag of many modern AAA titles. While Bungie also revealed Deluxe and Collector’s Editions, the sales volume suggests that the affordable $40 price is the main reason players who might have been on the fence are deciding to buy in. 

Star-Studded Cast Signals Bungie’s Potential Turnaround

Beyond the sales figures, the pre-order launch was accompanied by the reveal of a star-studded voice cast, adding to the game's prestige. The lineup includes juggernauts Ben Starr, Jennifer English, and Neil Newbon, actors well-known for their recent acclaimed performances in Baldur’s Gate 3 and Final Fantasy XVI. This casting news, combined with the successful pre-order launch, marks a potential turnaround for Bungie.. 

After facing mixed buzz, plagiarism accusations, indefinite delays, and reports of low employee morale over the last year, the studio hopes this momentum will help Marathon avoid the fate of recent industry flops like Concord and establish a firm foothold in the extraction shooter genre.

Marathon has seen  a remarkable shift in narrative, for a project that has faced significant skepticism. Back in 2022, rumors circulated that Bungie was reviving Marathon to compete with Escape from Tarkov, but the road to release was anything but smooth. However, the title ultimately avoided cancellation, with PlayStation standing firmly behind the project. 

Recent closed tests seem to have turned the tide of public opinion, with one Reddit user noting, "I was ready to give up on the game, but decided to try the closed beta. It was incredible, and I’ve been thinking about it constantly ever since." With the March 5 launch rapidly approaching, it won't be long before we find out if this initial hype is here to stay. But for now, that a few hours was all it took for Marathon to jump the list is pretty remarkable, effectively silencing the initial doubts surrounding the project's development cycle.