Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter Marathon made an early splash on Steam shortly after its pre-orders opened. Within hours of becoming available to purchase, the game climbed into the platform’s top 10 best-selling charts. This quick rise has sparked discussion online among fans about what it means for the game’s early momentum and community interest.
Steam’s Top 10 and Why It Matters
Shortly after pre-orders went live, Marathon appeared in Steam’s list of top 10 best-selling games in several regions, including the United States and the United Kingdom. It even briefly hit a top five position in some areas before settling back into or near the top 10. This ranking reflects revenue from recent purchases rather than long-term sales figures, so it’s more of a snapshot of early interest than a sign of sustained success.
Being in Steam’s top seller list usually means a game is selling well compared with other titles at that moment. In Marathon’s case, the combination of Bungie’s reputation, a reasonable price point, and curiosity about the extraction shooter genre seems to have driven early purchases.
Why Players Are Talking Online
The news of Marathon’s early charting quickly became a talking point on social platforms and forums. Some players celebrated the strong pre-order turnout, seeing it as proof that Bungie’s reputation and the unusual genre blend are enough to draw attention despite a long development cycle and a delayed release date. Others were more cautious, noting that early chart placement often reflects immediate hype rather than long-term popularity.
Debate also centered around whether making the top 10 shortly after pre-orders open should be interpreted as a sign of future success. Some argue that any game getting that level of interest during the pre-order phase is notable, while others point out that short-term chart positions can be misleading without sustained performance after launch.
What Marathon Is
Marathon is an upcoming multiplayer extraction shooter developed by Bungie, known for its work on Halo and Destiny. In the game’s PvPvE format, players drop into dangerous zones to scavenge loot, complete objectives, and attempt to escape before rival teams eliminate them. The title blends competitive combat with high-risk, high-reward gameplay that has become a hallmark of the extraction shooter genre.
The game was originally scheduled for a 2025 release but was delayed to March 5, 2026. The pre-order window opening has given players a first chance to secure the game ahead of its launch and likely contributed to the early sales surge.
Understanding Steam’s Sales Charts
Steam’s top sellers list reflects recent purchase behavior rather than lifetime popularity. When pre-orders become available for a highly anticipated title, it’s common to see it quickly chart among the top sellers because players rush to buy early. This means that entering the top 10 within hours, while impressive, is not unusual for high profile releases and pre-orders, especially when no other major new content is competing for attention at the same moment.
That said, ranking highly early on can still be a positive indicator of community interest and engagement around a game’s upcoming release.
FAQs
Did Marathon launch already?
No, Marathon’s pre-orders have opened, but the game is still scheduled to launch on March 5, 2026.
What does top 10 on Steam mean?
It means Marathon was among the ten best-selling games on Steam based on recent purchase data shortly after pre-orders opened.
Does this guarantee success at launch?
Not necessarily. Early preorder sales show interest, but long-term performance after release depends on player reception, content updates, and overall engagement.
Why did it chart so quickly?
Strong interest from Bungie’s fan base, a competitive price point, and curiosity around the extraction shooter genre likely contributed to fast preorder sales.
What platforms is Marathon coming to?
Marathon is slated to release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
When is the official release?
The game is scheduled to launch on March 5, 2026.
Conclusion
Marathon’s entry into Steam’s top 10 best-selling list within hours of its pre-orders going live underscores early interest in Bungie’s new extraction shooter. While this kind of charting reflects immediate demand rather than long-term success, it shows that the game has captured attention and secured a strong initial sales push. As the March 2026 launch date approaches, players and observers will be watching to see how the game performs after release and whether that early momentum carries forward.