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Marathon, a $250 Million Failure? The Truth Behind the Player Count PlummetPlayStation's ambitious launch, 'Marathon,' is facing severe struggles despite a massive development budget. With player numbers plummeting just a month after release, it's already being called 'dead.' Can this game be revived?
1. 🎮 'Marathon,' $250 Million Development Cost, $55 Million Revenue, and PlayStation's Bungie Acquisition
· Reports from Forbes indicate that the development cost for 'Marathon' exceeds $200 million, potentially reaching up to $250 million.
· In its first month, approximately 1.2 million copies were sold, generating $55 million in revenue, which falls significantly short of recouping the development costs.
· PlayStation aimed to bolster its live-service game development capabilities by acquiring Bungie during the success of 'Destiny 2,' but 'Marathon's' struggles raise questions about this strategy.
· In its first month, approximately 1.2 million copies were sold, generating $55 million in revenue, which falls significantly short of recouping the development costs.
· PlayStation aimed to bolster its live-service game development capabilities by acquiring Bungie during the success of 'Destiny 2,' but 'Marathon's' struggles raise questions about this strategy.
00:00 - 00:31
1. 🎮 'Marathon,' $250 Million Development Cost, $55 Million Revenue, and PlayStation's Bungie Acquisition
· Reports from Forbes indicate that the development cost for 'Marathon' exceeds $200 million, potentially reaching up to $250 million.
· In its first month, approximately 1.2 million copies were sold, generating $55 million in revenue, which falls significantly short of recouping the development costs.
· PlayStation aimed to bolster its live-service game development capabilities by acquiring Bungie during the success of 'Destiny 2,' but 'Marathon's' struggles raise questions about this strategy.
· In its first month, approximately 1.2 million copies were sold, generating $55 million in revenue, which falls significantly short of recouping the development costs.
· PlayStation aimed to bolster its live-service game development capabilities by acquiring Bungie during the success of 'Destiny 2,' but 'Marathon's' struggles raise questions about this strategy.
00:51 - 01:37
2. 📉 'Marathon's' Shocking Player Count Drop and the Fandom's Self-Destructive Tendencies
· The peak concurrent player count, which reached 80,000 at launch, has now plummeted to the 10,000s, a primary reason for the game being labeled 'dead.'
· Even players who have spent over 80 hours in the game are feeling fatigued by the balance issues and repetitive gameplay.
· The core gameplay loop of farming and extraction is difficult, and the constant cycle of defeat leads players to burnout, resulting in the fandom exhausting itself.
· Even players who have spent over 80 hours in the game are feeling fatigued by the balance issues and repetitive gameplay.
· The core gameplay loop of farming and extraction is difficult, and the constant cycle of defeat leads players to burnout, resulting in the fandom exhausting itself.
01:38 - 02:45
3. 🤔 'Marathon's' Fundamental Problems: Low Fun Extraction Efficiency and Brutal PvP Environment
· While elements like per-minute gameplay experience, sliding, classes, and abilities are fun, reaching these enjoyable moments requires countless hours of grinding.
· Due to the nature of the extraction shooter genre, players are aggressive in trying to loot items in every lobby, meaning only a few actually experience the fun.
· The situation, where players have a roughly 90% chance of a negative experience, exacerbates player fatigue. As time goes on, players' skill and aggression increase, making it difficult for new or returning players to adapt.
· Due to the nature of the extraction shooter genre, players are aggressive in trying to loot items in every lobby, meaning only a few actually experience the fun.
· The situation, where players have a roughly 90% chance of a negative experience, exacerbates player fatigue. As time goes on, players' skill and aggression increase, making it difficult for new or returning players to adapt.
02:46 - 04:02
4. 📈 Accelerating Player Count Decline: Matchmaking Issues and Long Wait Times
· Matchmaking times, which were 10-30 seconds at launch, have now stretched to 3-5 minutes, significantly hindering the game's accessibility.
· The analysis that only a few out of 20 players actually enjoy the game raises questions about the game's fundamental fun design.
· Despite reaching Season Level 53 after 80 hours of gameplay, the repeated experience of not winning eliminates motivation, making the game feel like a 'second job.'
· The analysis that only a few out of 20 players actually enjoy the game raises questions about the game's fundamental fun design.
· Despite reaching Season Level 53 after 80 hours of gameplay, the repeated experience of not winning eliminates motivation, making the game feel like a 'second job.'
04:03 - 05:07
5. 📉 'Marathon's' Future: Potential Sony Support Cut and Bungie's One-Year Grace Period
· The current player count of around 11,000 is a critical situation, and it's unpredictable when Sony might cease support.
· Bungie has been given one year to make 'Marathon' successful, but considering the massive $250 million development cost, the chances of success are uncertain.
· With the player base rapidly shrinking, the game's long-term survival seems unlikely, and there's speculation that Sony executives might consider canceling the project.
· Bungie has been given one year to make 'Marathon' successful, but considering the massive $250 million development cost, the chances of success are uncertain.
· With the player base rapidly shrinking, the game's long-term survival seems unlikely, and there's speculation that Sony executives might consider canceling the project.
05:08 - 06:35
6. 🚫 'Marathon's' Fatal Design Flaw: Difficulty of Solo Play and Issues with Party-Centric Design
· The game is designed around party play, making it extremely disadvantageous for solo players and significantly hindering accessibility.
· There's a wide skill gap among randomly matched teammates, and gameplay becomes difficult due to trolling or uncooperative players.
· The need for different team members to complete separate quests makes progress impossible without cooperation, amplifying player frustration.
· There's a wide skill gap among randomly matched teammates, and gameplay becomes difficult due to trolling or uncooperative players.
· The need for different team members to complete separate quests makes progress impossible without cooperation, amplifying player frustration.
06:36 - 07:42
7. 🔥 'Marathon's' Extreme Difficulty and Unfair Combat Experience
· While the core gameplay elements of combat and ability usage are excellent, the repetitive experience of defeat discourages players.
· Especially in major events like the 'Cryo Archive,' players already equipped with top-tier gear easily dominate other teams due to overwhelming performance differences.
· This unfair combat environment leads to player frustration, making the game feel less like a fair fight and more like an insurmountable challenge.
· Especially in major events like the 'Cryo Archive,' players already equipped with top-tier gear easily dominate other teams due to overwhelming performance differences.
· This unfair combat environment leads to player frustration, making the game feel less like a fair fight and more like an insurmountable challenge.
07:43 - 08:53
8. 📈 'Marathon's' Ranked Mode Failure and the Game Becoming a 'Second Job'
· In ranked mode, the 'extraction' win condition encourages hiding or securing advantageous positions, detracting from the game's fun.
· Although the moment-to-moment combat experience is good, repeated losses and loss of progress make it difficult for players to continue playing.
· Being stuck at Season Level 53 after 82 hours of playtime makes the game feel less like playing for fun and more like a 'second job,' draining players' energy.
· Although the moment-to-moment combat experience is good, repeated losses and loss of progress make it difficult for players to continue playing.
· Being stuck at Season Level 53 after 82 hours of playtime makes the game feel less like playing for fun and more like a 'second job,' draining players' energy.
08:54 - 09:53
9. 💡 'Marathon's' Only Hope? Introducing Solo Matchmaking and the Game's Fundamental Issues
· The only way to save the game is to introduce solo matchmaking, providing an environment separate from party play.
· Some argue that the game's current problems are too deep and fundamental to be solvable.
· There's a possibility that PlayStation executives might consider canceling the 'Marathon' project, leaving the game's future uncertain.
· Some argue that the game's current problems are too deep and fundamental to be solvable.
· There's a possibility that PlayStation executives might consider canceling the 'Marathon' project, leaving the game's future uncertain.
09:54 - 10:19
10. 🤔 Viewer Opinions on 'Marathon's' Future and the Desire for a PVE Mode
· Viewers are asked to share their thoughts on 'Marathon's' future in the comments.
· Many players feel fatigued by the PvP-centric gameplay, as evidenced by comments like, 'If there was a PVE mode, I'd play it every day.'
· The current state of the game provides an overwhelming experience even for a user who has played 400 hours in a single month, highlighting the game's severe balance issues.
· Many players feel fatigued by the PvP-centric gameplay, as evidenced by comments like, 'If there was a PVE mode, I'd play it every day.'
· The current state of the game provides an overwhelming experience even for a user who has played 400 hours in a single month, highlighting the game's severe balance issues.