"I think it's going to be the next big thing": As Marathon's launch looms, will Arc Raiders' success help or hurt Bungie?

A woman in a space helmet stares at something off the screen in Arc Raiders — (Image credit: Embark)

Marathon is almost here, and the extraction shooter aims to prove it's got more than just a killer aesthetic. Of course, everyone is still raving about Arc Raiders and its more relaxed approach to high-stakes looting-and-shooting runs – but does that mean Bungie is fighting an uphill battle, or taking its swing at the perfect time?

In late 2025, Marathon's buzz was lacking. Its reveal didn't make a good impression, and playtests confirmed Bungie's first post-Destiny 2 game needed more time in the oven. Thankfully, the Sony-owned (but self-published) studio listened and went back to work. You only get one shot at winning big.

As we wait for the upcoming "server slam" weekend that's coming a few days before launch, I wanted to see how the Arc Raiders community feels about Marathon – and whether they are planning to check it out come March 5.

The PvP dilemma

Marathon gameplay showing a player running alongside a wall where someone has scrawled 'Thank god its you' over and over again — (Image credit: Bungie)

First impressions

Arc Raiders review: "The most memorable multiplayer experiences I've had all year – this shooter is tense but wonderfully approachable"

My first stop was the r/ArcRaiders Reddit, where I tried to figure out how Marathon's PvP focus could enchant extraction shooter veterans and offer an alternative to Embark's behemoth. I tried to have the same conversation in-game with fellow raiders, but all attempts ended with me being betrayed, which suggests the PvP crowd is indeed hungry.

I was surprised to learn about a negative sentiment towards Embark that's grown in recent weeks. It seems a large portion of the player base is annoyed by PvE getting the most attention, to the point where Marathon's PvP focus is seen as not just an 'exit route,' but also a wake-up call that could push the studio to alter its current plans. "If Arc's developers continue to focus on PvE, there will be an outflow of PvP players to Marathon," says one veteran player, who worries the approach will turn Arc Raiders into a "niche game for a handful of PvE players."

Another recurring claim is that the monthly updates required to keep the game fresh for the hardcore audience haven't been enough. While I do think there's been a good amount of post-launch content added to the game overall, neither the Cold Snap update nor the Shared Watch event are PvP-first in their approach to spicing things up. Beyond the addition of high-risk runs for solo vets that want to go up against groups, there's no 'edgier' way to experience Arc Raiders.

Arc Raiders screenshot of player running from a Leaper robot — (Image credit: Embark Studios)

"The only thing I'm looking forward to with the launch of Marathon is PvP players leaving Arc Raiders"

"Don't get me wrong, Arc is a real good game, but it's more casual. I'll definitely play Marathon, and I think it's going to be the next big thing," another player tells me. Many seem to agree with this, but feel it's important to get a taste of what's coming.

The aforementioned "server slam" weekend should give everyone, including myself, either reassurance or despair going into Bungie's big day. Some players have already bought into the studio's pitch regardless: "Marathon is seeming to be the first bit of serious competition in the PvP extraction space (not [an Escape From Tarkov] clone), so even if it sucks ass, I think it’ll be my next main game," one hungry raider on Arc Raiders' Steam forums plainly states.

"The only thing I'm looking forward to with the launch of Marathon is PvP players leaving Arc Raiders," a PvE-first fan commented. "PvP sweats will migrate to Marathon, because it fosters more competitive gunfights for those actually looking for PvP," added another. "The rats will stay in Arc Raiders, because they can't shoot worth a damn." Ouch!

A player facing off against enemies in a corridor full of dead bodies in Marathon — (Image credit: Bungie)

Different games for different crowds

Arc Raiders Shared Watch event update. — (Image credit: Embark Studios)

Some close friends who don't keep track of the usual news and discourse cycles (what a blessing), but have been playing a ton of Arc Raiders told me similar things. "I have over 1,500 hours played in Tarkov, and Arc Raiders is a nice entry game for curious players, but after 60 hours, I've seen most of what it has to offer... I think Marathon can coexist with it, as they're not aimed at the same people," Sergio Quirós, one of the most dedicated shooter players I know, told me.

"Marathon is familiar for those of us more used to extraction shooters. Arc Raiders has been a breath of fresh air, and Marathon looks like a more competitive and more serious game," my equally shooter-hungry friend Carlos Casco added. Not everyone is as optimistic about its chances, though they admit nothing will matter if the game actually feels good to play when it arrives. Another frequent thought is that competition is good, and another potential mainstream success might help keep Embark on its toes.

Even though it's practically impossible to absorb the whole breadth of opinions around Embark's hit game and Bungie's next, I think it's safe to say their biggest differences are what might secure their success in the long run. Arc Raiders is in a great spot right now, but in a fast-moving market, updates that don't quite hit the mark for players could take it down a notch. At the same time, it feels like Bungie's best shot with Marathon is doubling down on what makes it unique – betting on cutthroat players in need of higher stakes.

A matter of trust?

Marathon launch trailer screenshot of a player watching an incapacitated enemy runner crawling away from them with a trail of blue blood — (Image credit: Bungie)

"I doubt it would be my forever game, but still worth a shot. You never know 'til you try it"

Enthusiasm (or lack of) around each game's approach to the genre doesn't tell the whole story, though. Even if Marathon's pitch is amazing on paper and its audiovisual presentation runs circles around the competition, let's not forget Destiny 2 has struggled in recent times due to ever-shifting creative visions and failed attempts to capture the attention of too many different types of players. What if Marathon faces the same leadership-related issues despite the ground-level developers' best efforts?

"I don't buy Bungie products anymore after Destiny," a Steam player told me, pivoting away from any real discussion on Marathon's philosophy and contents. He rightly went on to ramble about the mismanagement of the MMO FPS and its wobbly roadmaps. It's the sort of sentiment I also saw pop up in nastier comments I won't share here, but more hopeful gamers are also willing to give this new release a fighting chance following the rework it's gone through: "I doubt it would be my forever game, but still worth a shot. You never know 'til you try it."

Marathon players moving through swampy flora as the sun shines through trees — (Image credit: Bungie)

Some games media peers also seem more hopeful than they were a few months ago. Steve Exposito, who wasn't into extraction shooters pre-Arc Raiders, has noticed a "sense of flavor" that felt missing in previous glimpses of Marathon. "Arc Raiders definitely changed my perspective on the genre and I am willing to try games like Marathon now... But the rewards have to be fulfilling. I kinda fell out of Arc because the gameplay after a month felt too stale since rewards were few and far between."

It's not just about nailing the moment-to-moment action, but also about the larger picture and what keeps us coming back for more (or not). Could the game's seemingly ambitious narrative and stacked voice cast make a difference here? I'd say so, but that's just my taste talking.

It won't be long before we find out if Marathon has sauce beyond its jaw-dropping visuals and audio, but right now, I'd say things are looking fairly positive. Still, all live-service games that aren't one of the 'forever whales' are walking into a difficult arena right now, and even Bungie isn't safe from rejection if the spark and momentum aren't there. Personally, I think Marathon's marketing's relaunch combined with Arc Raiders' success has put the developer in a best-case pre-launch scenario, but the game itself needs to deliver in a way that really feels extraterrestrial and stylish.

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