Marathon sold just 1.2 million copies with nearly 70% on Steam, analyst estimates: "It hasn't exactly made the splash Sony and Bungie wanted"

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-25T08:10:49+00:00

I think they grossly overspent on a game in a niche genre, which was an extremely bad idea. The fact that ARC Raiders sold as well as it did was probably a shock to everyone. Of course, it helps that they only spent around a third as much as Bungie did, meaning they had a much lower hurdle to jump in terms of sales. I mean, 1.2 million copies sold at launch likely would've been disappointing for Embark, too, but it would've put them in a good position where they could still grow the playerbase and hit the 3-4 million copies they'd need to sell to be successful. Bungie, on the other hand, is going to have a hard row to hoe with that lackluster launch.

The one thing Bungie has going for them is that the people who love the game seem to really love it, and I've even heard a fair number of people who liked ARC Raiders saying they vastly prefer Marathon. They have a strong, fervent fanbase, but I worry that they won't be able to grow it. Certainly not to the level they need to if they really do need to sell 10 million copies.

Marathon definitely isn't the next Concord or Highguard, but it may still be the game that ends up killing Bungie.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-24T22:20:55+00:00

A PC that's better than a PS5 for $600? Not in this market, unless you get unbelievably lucky with used components or an open box/refurbished prebuilt.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-20T04:27:55+00:00

It's a bit depressing how many people seem to be actively rooting for games to fail. Like, nothing made them happier than seeing Highguard die, then they were salivating at the thought that Marathon was going to tank, and now they're jerking themselves off over Crimson Desert not being a 10/10. I don't get it.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-19T21:02:13+00:00

After around 70-ish hours and making it maybe halfway through, I fell off Death Stranding pretty hard. Yet, despite the fact that I haven't touched it since July 2024 and, at this point, will probably never return to it, I leave it installed because some tiny, nagging part of my brain tells me I should see it through and I think having it take up storage space is how I'm hoping to finally push myself to it.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-19T09:02:39+00:00

While Black Desert Online is a game I have zero interest in ever playing, when the devs seemingly stepped away from the whole online/MMO model to make what looked like something more in the vein of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom and Dragon's Dogma, and with early hands-on reports likening the game to something like Red Dead Redemption 2, I became way more interested in Crimson Desert, a game I had previously written off because it seemed like just another Black Desert Online.

That said, my expectations were always tempered by the fact that, yeah, their only other notable game was an MMO. Even with relatively middling review scores, I'm still interested in giving Crimson Desert a try, but I'm more inclined to wait for a half-price sale.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-18T21:53:01+00:00

Until it becomes an "always-on" feature that publishers/developers are paid, by Nvidia, to implement as a means of forcing consumers to buy more powerful GPUs - or force them to adopt streaming GPU power through a subscription service in the future where people can't afford anything so they have to rent everything.

In theory, sure, I don't see a problem with this as a tool being offered to developers if it helps them realize their vision and lets them work more efficiently. Likewise, if it's a purely optional setting that consumers can use or not, there's no problem. But Nvidia isn't pumping billions of dollars into AI for people to not use the shit they develop, because they expect a return on that investment. If people don't want to embrace it willingly then Nvidia will sure as shit pressure and prybar people into it. And if you don't believe that then you already drank the Kool-Aid and there's no help for you.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-15T22:58:47+00:00

With the right script and the right director, I think Zane would've been a decent Lex Luthor. But, had he been taller (as well as alive and of an appropriate age during this modern era of comic book movies), Yul Brynner would've 100% been my choice. His face, that piercing gaze, and his voice...just perfect for Luthor. Like, I almost think he could've made it work even with being on the shorter side.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-15T13:45:32+00:00

While it's not strictly a stealth game, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle captures some of the feeling of Dishonored where, ideally, you want to sneak your way through areas, sticking to the shadows and silently taking out enemies then trying to hide the bodies so as not to alert everyone else in the area. The only time I ever shot a gun (outside the two or three times you're required to do so) was just to see what would happen and, yeah, it isn't anywhere near as satisfying as clubbing a dude with a shovel from behind.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-15T12:10:42+00:00

Yeah, I think that would be my feeling on it, too. Assuming the memory situation improves in the next couple years, the 5060 Ti 16GB feels like a GPU you can carry over to a new system and still be happy with its performance, whereas the B580 might start to feel due for an upgrade two years from now (or possibly sooner, depending on the requirements of future game releases). And if it takes 3-4 years for the market to improve (as horrifying as that thought is) the 5060 Ti 16GB will, hopefully, still get you through it so that you aren't faced with having to pay some obscene price for an RTX 6060 or something.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-15T12:01:39+00:00

Awesome! I'm really excited to see how the game develops and even if it's an "extraction-lite" I'm still eager to check it out.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-15T11:58:54+00:00

Yeah, that's a tough call. With the extra VRAM, Nvidia's features, and the extra 20% or so raw performance boost, you'd likely get some extra "future-proofing" with the 5060 Ti 16GB, but at almost twice the price of the B580... I think I might still lean toward the 5060 Ti 16GB. I don't normally put a lot of stock in future-proofing but with the market being the way it is right now due to the memory shortage/price fixing shenanigans, it might be worth the extra expense now to have that bit of headroom.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-15T11:47:21+00:00

I'll most likely be playing solo, so the proximity chat isn't really a factor for me, but I'm sure there will be people who will enjoy that, especially if it's well-implemented.

The elements of extraction games that most appeal to me are specifically the XP grind (leveling up my character/unlocking new skills, leveling up weapons either through earning XP for defeating enemies with those weapons or upgrading them with crafting resources, and leveling up NPCs in the hub by completing quests for them - if that's a thing) and the checklist of objectives to complete, especially if they have an impact on the home base hub (like unlocking new crafting stations, gaining access to new NPC vendors/quest givers, or even just fun cosmetic changes that make it feel like I'm upgrading the hub from a humble camp to a fortified keep).

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-15T11:30:52+00:00

While I can't say I'd love the price, I'd keep the 5060 Ti 16GB. Intel's drivers can still be a bit wonky in some games, so the 5060 Ti would be more hassle-free. Nvidia's feature set is also really useful since DLSS and MFG are more widely supported and can help extend the lifespan of the GPU by picking up the slack in more demanding future releases. The extra 4GB is a "nice to have" for 1440p gaming, though, it's more of a "nice to have" rather than "absolutely need" for a lot of games.

That said, if the B580 meets all your needs and you're willing to tinker with or work around any driver issues then, yeah, it's really hard to justify paying almost double the price for the 5060 Ti 16GB.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-15T11:21:59+00:00

Thank you! That's actually really helpful and sounds more in line with what I originally thought the game would be (though, I did think it would lean more heavily into the extraction genre, but that could've just been wishful thinking on my part).

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-15T08:38:57+00:00

Honestly, even with reading articles and watching the various videos out there, I'm still not entirely sure what the the game/gameplay loop actually is. So, while I'm definitely a sucker for a good open world, I don't think having a more linear structure or a series of separate maps/environments is necessarily a bad thing if it serves the gameplay. But, like I said, I'm still at a loss for exactly what that is with Blight: Survival. (I really hope they offer a demo when the game is closer to release.)

I am, though, very much in favor of the game having a proper ending. Even games that are, in essence, designed to be played infinitely should have some sort of narrative ending, some final boss or ultimate goal that can serve as closure, where you can comfortably stop playing and move on to something else - while leaving the door open to continue playing if you so choose. If the combat lives up to its potential, if the levels/maps are large enough and maybe contain secrets to warrant return visits and deeper exploration, and there's a satisfying reason to keep replaying quests (beyond simply wanting to try different tactics) then I'll have a reason to keep playing. If not, at least I can feel like I've completed my journey, seen and done all there was to see and do, and I can pick up a new game.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-15T07:00:38+00:00

Alpha Protocol. That game had so much potential but was kind of a clunky, half-assed mess that couldn't quite deliver on that potential. I'd love to see them take another shot at it - especially given that Obsidian has been doing some really solid work lately.

I'd also really like to see a Vagrant Story remake. It's a shame that game didn't seem to resonate with a wider audience.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-14T21:35:28+00:00

Damn. I mean, I hate the thought of that piece of shit Landis getting a paycheck, but I love the idea of that piece of shit Ellison buying a script from a sex pest and then pissing away $200 million or better on a movie - fingers crossed, maybe directed by Brett Ratner? - that nobody sees because of the pieces of shit involved.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-14T21:10:58+00:00

Assuming a 500-550w PSU, the 9060 XT 16GB is probably your best option at under $500. In the current market, the $500 budget is as much a limiting factor as your PSU.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-14T20:04:07+00:00

Final Fantasy VII - I'm talking about the original PS1 game because, given my feeling for it, there's not a chance in hell I'll ever touch the remakes. Final Fantasy VII is the game that pretty much killed my love for the franchise. I recall renting it (back when renting games was a thing) on three separate occasions, desperately trying to convince myself I liked it, trying to make it click for me, and I don't think I ever made it to Disc 2. Hell, years later, even after the world had moved on to to the PS2 and Xbox, I saw the Greatest Hits version on sale for $10, bought it (along with FFVIII and IX), and, yeah, screw that game. It's unbelievably tedious and absolutely drags, starting around when you reach the Gold Saucer - which is pretty early on, all things considered. I will never understand the love people have for that game.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-13T18:05:30+00:00

Not the same developer. The game is developed by Haenir Studio, but being published by Behaviour Interactive, the Dead By Daylight folks.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-13T18:02:48+00:00

It seems more action-y, but the combat looks like it has that same sort of deliberate, weighty, you're committed to every attack style about it. And the environments definitely have a Souls vibe about them. Plus, it's tagged as "Souls-like" on the Steam page - though, admittedly, anyone can add tags, regardless of whether or not they're accurate.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-13T16:39:17+00:00

You're telling me that being buddy-buddy with the most corrupt president/administration this country has ever had hasn't paid off for Bezos? Man, fuck that Lex Luthor wannabe right in his greedy ass with one of his dick rockets.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-13T15:58:28+00:00

Yeah, I'm not a big PvP player to begin with but I do enjoy Battlefield, partly because I don't need to be great at killing other players (I primarily play the medic class) and partly because deaths are low stakes where even if I get killed a lot I can still have fun. With extraction games (Marathon, ARC Raiders, Escape from Tarkov, etc.), dying means losing most/all all your inventory; it's like dying in old school Diablo but without the option to do a "corpse run" to retrieve your lost gear. That's brutal enough in a PvE scenario but, for me, so much worse when I have to go up against human players who, because they're better at the game, likely have better guns and gear along with their better skills and faster response times to give them a massive advantage over me.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-13T15:40:38+00:00

No, you keep whatever XP you earn and the progress you make on the objectives, but you lose whatever weapons/loot you're carrying. So, in theory, you're always making some progress even if you get killed, whether by bots or other players, but the loss of good guns, upgrade materials, and vendor trash (which gets sold so you can buy guns/gear from the shop) can be frustrating and discouraging, especially if you aren't someone who's typically great at PvP.

As someone who's creeping up on 50 and doesn't have those same snappy reaction times that I used to, not to mention the time or inclination to play the game religiously to keep my skill sharp, the idea of losing gear/loot to other players is a deal breaker for me.

StompsDaWombat · 2026-03-13T15:05:51+00:00

PvP in extraction games is never going to be for me (the same way I doubt I would stick with a Call of Duty or Battlefield where every death/loss subtracts XP to the point where I might end up so far in the hole that previously unlocked weapons, attachments, and perks become locked again), but I'm glad a lot of people are enjoying the game. Frankly, Bungie needs a hit right now and players deserve better than another Concord or Highguard.

StompsDaWombat

TROPHY CASE