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Bungie’s Marathon Finds Early Traction as Reddit Astroturf Claim Collapses

Debunked astroturf claims shift attention to Bungie’s ongoing updates.

Overview

  • An online claim that Bungie or Sony paid Reddit users for positive Marathon posts was debunked after reporters traced the screenshots to a real Discord server with edited images and no Marathon tie.
  • Bungie is pressing on with support, keeping the Cryo Archive activity live with ranked play and outlining tests for a Duo matchmaking option to broaden squad choices.
  • Marathon is an extraction shooter where one-to-three player squads raid Tau Ceti IV and only keep gear they extract, so a death can wipe out a run’s loot.
  • Early traction is solid with a Very Positive rating on Steam, more than 33,500 concurrent players cited, and a 79 on Metacritic, according to GeekWire’s roundup.
  • Reviews praise Bungie’s gunfeel, bold art, and rich lore but flag delayed endgame access, clunky menus on console, and trio-first design, and some players object to mandatory seasonal wipes that reset progress beyond cosmetics.