A new report claims Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter Marathon will only be seen as a success if it reaches the top 5 NPD (Circana) sales of the year.
Bungie’s long-awaited extraction shooter, Marathon, has faced a rocky road this past year. After the Closed Alpha received mixed reactions from fans and critics alike, the game became the center of an art theft controversy that quickly spiraled into headlines.
Internally, morale at the studio is reported to be at an all-time low, with ex-developers publicly calling out leadership and current staff struggling with a mix of frustration and uncertainty about the project’s direction.
Bungie’s Projected Sales for Marathon
Now, it’s being reported that Bungie has set a sky-high internal goal for Marathon’s launch. According to Forbes journalist Paul Tassi, the studio is aiming for nothing less than a top 5 spot on the NPD (now known as Circana) sales charts for the year if the game is to be considered a true success.
Tassi shared this claim in a new YouTube video released today, citing insider information about Bungie’s internal expectations and the kind of commercial performance leadership is hoping to see. He said, “I heard this needed to be in the top five of NPD sales for the year if it’s going to be a success or considered a success. Crazy. No way. There’s no way.”
For those unaware, Marathon isn’t aiming for a free-to-play model like many big shooters in the market right now. Bungie has confirmed that Marathon will be a premium, paid release. Last year, The Game Post reported that the target price was set at $40, and as of just a few weeks ago, that still appears to be the plan.
This means not only will players have to decide if the game is worth their own money, but they’ll also need to convince friends to join them, a tough ask in an already crowded year for major releases.
Speaking of, 2025 is already stacked with big launches like Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ghost of Yotei, Borderlands 4, and several other highly anticipated titles. With so many blockbuster games fighting for attention and dollars, breaking into the top 5 on the sales charts is a massive challenge, even for a studio as well-known as Bungie.
Adding to the uncertainty, Bungie has reportedly scrapped its original marketing plans for Marathon, set for June 2025, following the negative Closed Alpha reception. The previously planned trailer, pre-orders, and open beta have all been delayed or replaced with smaller public playtests.
As with any rumor, it’s best to treat this information with a grain of salt until there’s official confirmation. With all of this in mind, it’s clear Bungie has placed a huge bet on Marathon’s launch. But is reaching a top 5 sales spot even possible under these conditions?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
